Women and High Blood Pressure

Women and High Blood Pressure

In some women, blood pressure can increase if they use birth control pills, become pregnant, or take hormone therapy during menopause.

Pregnancy

Many pregnant women with high blood pressure have healthy babies. However, high blood pressure can be dangerous for both the mother and the baby. High blood pressure can harm the mother's kidneys and other organs, and it can cause low birth weight and early delivery.

If you are thinking about having a baby and you have high blood pressure, talk first to your doctor or nurse. You can take steps to control your blood pressure before and during pregnancy. Regular prenatal care (health care during pregnancy) is very important for your and your baby's health.

Before becoming pregnant:
Be sure your blood pressure is under control. Making changes such as limiting the salt and sodium in your diet, exercising regularly, and losing weight if you are overweight can be helpful.
Discuss with your doctor how high blood pressure might affect you and your baby during pregnancy, and what you can do to prevent or lessen problems.
If you take medicines for your blood pressure, ask your doctor what you should do about taking them during pregnancy. Women who take ACE inhibitors should talk to their doctor before they become pregnant.
While you are pregnant:
Be sure to get regular prenatal health care. Don't miss any appointments.
Don't drink alcohol or smoke.
Talk to your doctor about any over-the-counter or prescribed medicines you are taking or are thinking about taking.
Some women develop high blood pressure for the first time in the middle of their pregnancy. In the most serious cases, the mother develops a condition called preeclampsia or "toxemia of pregnancy." This condition can threaten the lives of both the mother and the unborn child. More information about high blood pressure and pregnancy is available at the NHLBI Web site, "Your Guide to Lowering Your High Blood Pressure."

Even though high blood pressure during pregnancy can be serious, most women with high blood pressure and those who develop preeclampsia have successful pregnancies. Getting early and regular prenatal care is the most important thing you can do for you and your baby.

Oral Contraceptives (Birth Control Pills)

Women taking birth control pills usually have a small increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure and are using birth control pills, get your blood pressure checked regularly and talk to your doctor about a possible rise in blood pressure and what you can do about it.

If you have high blood pressure, are age 35 or older, and also smoke, you should not take birth control pills unless you quit smoking. Women age 35 and older who smoke and use birth control pills are more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke. High blood pressure also raises your chances of stroke and heart disease.

If you are age 35 or older, are healthy, do not smoke, and your high blood pressure is controlled, it may be safe for you to use birth control pills. Ask your doctor if birth control pills are safe for you.

Hormone Therapy (HT) for Menopause

A recent study indicated that blood pressure does not increase significantly with HT in most women with and without high blood pressure. However, a few women may have a rise in blood pressure due to estrogen therapy.

If you start taking HT, you should have your blood pressure checked regularly. Your doctor can help answer your questions