Hypertension

By Pangolin on Mar 13, 2008 | Reply

Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are classified into 4 categories, as recommended by the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy: 1) chronic hypertension, 2) preeclampsia-eclampsia, 3) preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension, and 4) gestational hypertension (transient hypertension of pregnancy or chronic hypertension identified in the latter half of pregnancy). This terminology is preferred over the older but widely used term PIH (pregnancy-induced hypertension) because it is more precise.

Chronic hypertension is defined as blood pressure exceeding 140/90 mm Hg before pregnancy or before 20 weeks’ gestation. When hypertension is first identified during a woman’s pregnancy and she is at less than 20 weeks’ gestation, blood pressure elevations usually represent chronic hypertension. In contrast, new onset of elevated blood pressure readings after 20 weeks’ gestation mandates the consideration and exclusion of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia occurs in approximately 5% of all pregnancies, 10% of first pregnancies, and 20-25% of women with a history of chronic hypertension.

There’s a lot more about it here:

By Lani S on Mar 14, 2008 | Reply

In pregnancy induced hypertension, the blood pressure is considered high only during pregnancy. The pressure will then decrease to normal level after delivery, while in chronic hypertension, one has high blood pressure whether she’s pregnant or not.

By sheila on Mar 16, 2008 | Reply

hypertension that arises during pregnancy, must be monitored for edema and protein in the urine. In some cases if PIH is left untreated can cause chronic hypertension but most of the time blood pressure returns to normal after delivery.