Gestational Hypertension

Also indexed as: GH, Nonproteinuric Gestational Hypertension, Preeclampsia (Nonproteinuric), Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension [Nonproteinuric]

What you need to know

A healthy pregnancy starts with a healthy mother-to-be. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may help reduce your chances of developing mid- to late-term high blood pressure or gestational hypertension:

Get more calcium
Supplement with 1,200 to 1,500 mg a day to reduce risk

Mix in some magnesium
Take a 300 mg per day of this essential mineral to help prevent gestational hypertension or reduce its severity

Address your stress
Try meditation, counselling, and other methods that can ease the stress that contributes to gestational hypertension

Manage your medications
If you’re taking blood pressure medication, talk to your doctor or chemist to determine if you should increase your intake of potassium

Go for routine check-ups
See your pregnancy caregiver for blood-pressure checks and other important tests

These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or chemist. Continue reading the full gestational hypertension article for more in-depth, fully-referenced information on medicines, vitamins, herbs, and dietary and lifestyle changes that may be helpful.

About gestational hypertension

Gestational hypertension (GH) is high blood pressure that develops after the twentieth week of pregnancy and returns to normal after delivery, in women with previously normal blood pressure.

GH may be an early sign of either preeclampsia or chronic hypertension. If these complications do not develop, or if chronic hypertension develops but remains mild, the outcome of pregnancy is usually good for both the mother and newborn. GH has been shown to occur more frequently in women who are obese¹ or in those who are glucose-intolerant.² ³ ⁴

Product ratings for gestational hypertension

Rating	Nutritional Supplements	Herbs
	Calcium Magnesium
	Zinc
Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit. Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit. For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support and/or minimal health benefit.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms, which appear after the twentieth week of pregnancy, include swelling of the face and hands, visual disturbances, headache, high blood pressure, and a yellow discolouration of the skin and eyes.

Dietary changes that may be helpful

Unlike salt restriction in primary hypertension, a low-salt diet has not been shown to have a significant effect in reducing high blood pressure during pregnancy.⁵ ⁶ ⁷ As a result, salt restriction is not recommended to women with GH.⁸

Increased consumption of fish was associated with reduced risk of GH in one preliminary study.⁹ In this study, the incidence of hypertension during pregnancy was significantly higher in women from communities with lower consumption of fish and lower in women from communities with high fish consumption.

Lifestyle changes that may be helpful

In GH, regular check-ups during pregnancy and after delivery are needed for the prevention and early detection of preeclampsia and chronic hypertension.¹⁰ ¹¹ ¹²

Job stress (lack of control over work pace and the timing and frequency of breaks) has been reported to be detrimental; therefore, reducing job stress may be beneficial in the prevention of GH.¹³ In a preliminary study, women exposed to high job stress were found to be at greater risk of developing GH than were women with low job stress.¹⁴

The common practice of prescribing bed rest for women with GH has been questioned by some researchers.¹⁵ In the few studies examining this issue, results have been inconsistent.¹⁶ ¹⁷ While one controlled study found that bed rest reduced progression of GH to severe hypertension,¹⁸ evidence is currently insufficient to determine whether bed rest reduces blood pressure in women with GH.

Other therapies

Treatment for GH includes bed rest, restriction of sodium intake, and, if necessary, hospitalisation for observation. Intravenous magnesium solutions are occasionally recommended. The definitive treatment is termination of the pregnancy by induced delivery or caesarean section.

Vitamins that may be helpful

Calcium deficiency has been implicated as a possible cause of GH.¹⁹ ²⁰ In two preliminary studies, women who developed GH were found to have significantly lower dietary calcium intake than did pregnant women with normal blood pressure.²¹ ²² Calcium supplementation has significantly reduced the incidence of GH in preliminary studies²³ and in many,²⁴ ²⁵ ²⁶ ²⁷ ²⁸ ²⁹ though not all,³⁰ double-blind trials. Calcium supplements may be most effective in preventing GH in women who have low dietary intake of calcium. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends an intake of 1,200 to 1,500 mg of calcium daily during normal pregnancy.³¹ In women at risk of GH, studies showing reduced incidence have typically used 2,000 mg of supplemental calcium per day,³² ³³ ³⁴ ³⁵ ³⁶ ³⁷ without any reported maternal or foetal side effects.³⁸ ³⁹ Nonetheless, many doctors continue to suggest amounts no higher than 1,500 mg per day.

Magnesium deficiency has also been implicated as a possible cause of GH.⁴⁰ ⁴¹ ⁴² Dietary intake of magnesium is below recommended levels for many women during pregnancy.⁴³ ⁴⁴ Magnesium supplementation has been reported to reduce the incidence of GH in preliminary⁴⁵ and many double-blind trials.⁴⁶ ⁴⁷ In addition to preventing GH, magnesium supplementation has also been reported to reduce the severity of established GH in one study.⁴⁸ Amounts used in studies on GH range from 165 to 365 mg of supplemental magnesium per day.

Zinc supplementation (20 mg per day) was reported to reduce the incidence of GH in one double-blind trial studying a group of low-income Hispanic pregnant women who were not zinc deficient.⁴⁹

Anti-oxidant levels in the blood of women with GH appear to be reduced in some,⁵⁰ ⁵¹ ⁵² but not all,⁵³ preliminary studies. No studies have yet been conducted evaluating the effects of anti-oxidant supplementation on the incidence or severity of GH.

Are there any side effects or interactions?
Refer to the individual supplement for information about any side effects or interactions.

References

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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or chemist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires September 2008.

2007-09-01