According to medscape.com, hypertension is one of the most
common health problems encountered by mothers during pregnancy. Hypertension in
pregnancy can be categorized into four groups - chronic hypertension,
preeclampsia-eclampsia, preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension and
gestational hypertension. Studies show that maternal hypertension can increase
the likelihood of fetal malformations because of the use of
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors during the first trimester of
pregnancy.
However, further studies have to be made because clinical
observation has not fully confirmed these findings.
Just recently, foxnews.com released a report stating that
maternal hypertension can also affect the child’s intellect later in life.
Researchers linked the low birth weight in newborns with an increased risk of
aging-related disorders and lower cognitive function. According to Katri
Räikkönen, a researcher at the University of Helsinki, “Lower birth rate is a
proxy of environmental factors during pregnancy and preeclampsia, or high blood
pressure, is one of those environmental factors.” On the other hand, the
researchers believe that there are certain factors that can affect the blood
pressure measurements like maternal stress and other external factor. It is
possible that hypertension in women can be just a temporary incident because of
these other factors.
Fertility specialists and the researchers would advise
pregnant mothers to look after not just their physical health but also their
psychological health because their general health can affect their pregnancy
and the life of their unborn child.
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