Gestational Hypertension: Symptoms and Prevention

[News S=Reporter Kim A-hyun] Interest in gestational hypertension is increasing.

The most common symptoms of gestational hypertension are known to be high blood pressure and proteinuria. However, these symptoms do not always appear. According to actual research results, 38% of gestational hypertension patients did not exhibit high blood pressure and proteinuria symptoms.

Other symptoms may include weight gain or swelling in the hands and feet, but these are symptoms that commonly occur in normal pregnancies, making them difficult for pregnant women to notice.

Experts say that after 20 weeks of pregnancy, pregnant women should suspect gestational hypertension in cases of ▲sudden vision deterioration ▲rapid weight gain (0.9kg increase per week) ▲severe pain directly below the ribs ▲persistent severe headaches ▲facial, hand, or foot swelling.

In particular, ▲pregnant women aged 35 or older ▲pregnant women with conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or obesity have increased risk of gestational hypertension and require closer monitoring.

Since the exact cause of gestational hypertension has not been identified, there is no specific prevention method. However, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity are strong risk factors for gestational hypertension, so it is important to maintain proper lifestyle habits at all times.