Elevated Blood Pressure during Pregnancy may Raise the Risk of Stroke
According to a study has been presented lately at the Canadian Stroke Congress, elevated blood pressure in pregnant women may significantly improve a woman's risk of stroke.
The systematic review conducted by Dr. Aravind Ganesh, a neurology resident at the University of Calgary, Nena Sarna, medical student and Dr Rahul Mehta (internal medicine resident) found consistent evidence that women with elevated blood pressure during pregnancy are at higher risk of stroke, loss of brain functions due to shortage of blood supply to the brain, particularly if they had pre-eclampsia, a medical condition where high blood pressure is combined with significant amounts of protein in the urine in pregnant women. The elevated risk of stroke could be even 40 per cent.
Hypertension is the most common medical problem during pregnancy , affecting 2-3 per cent of all pregnant women. Shortage of oxygen to the placenta or early delivery are among the most frequent risk factors.
Therefore, the continuous monitoring of the women with high blood pressure during pregnancy is utmost important to prevent stroke in the future – as hypertension is the most significant risk factor for stroke.
Although women are closely monitored throughout pregnancy for blood pressure changes, but there are currently no specific recommendations regarding stroke-related screening or preventive measures.
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is the perfect way for the diagnosis and control of hypertension during pregnancy as well. ABPM gives more information about the patient's hypertensive condition, as blood pressure is recorded more precisely, away from the medical environment over a 24 hour period even at night-time.
Meditech ABPM-05 ambulatory blood pressure monitor is a simple but perfect solution for 24 hour blood pressure monitoring. Unique product features includes double-valve technology and stepwise deflation technique, all facilitates safety, accuracy and better patient comfort.