More pregnant women being diagnosed with high blood pressure, studies show

BOSTON - Maternal mortality is on the rise in the U.S and a leading cause is pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension is essentially developing high blood pressure during pregnancy and according to KFF Health News, more pregnant people are being diagnosed with dangerously high blood pressure. That can cause serious complications for the mom, including organ damage, vision loss, heart attack, seizures, strokes, and in some cases death. It also threatens the life of the unborn baby.

Being overweight and having babies later in life are both risk factors but it can happen to anyone. If you're pregnant, make sure you go to all of your prenatal appointments where they will check your blood pressure and your urine and if you develop severe headaches, belly pain, blurred vision, or excessive swelling of the hands, ankles, or face, call your doctor right away.

In:
• Health
• Women's Health
• Pregnancy

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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