O11: Pre-eclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension

You have had high blood pressure for a long time. You have also developed a condition known as pre-eclampsia in pregnancy.

The heart pumps blood through the arteries to every part of the body. The pressure in the arteries must be enough for all the organs to get enough blood. On the other hand, if the blood pressure is too high, the heart, kidneys or other organs may get damaged. Under stress, our blood pressure naturally rises. During the night, our blood pressure usually falls.

The metric for blood pressure always consists of two figures. The first figure is the maximum pressure in the arteries. It occurs when the heart pumps blood out. The second value is the minimum pressure in the arteries. It occurs when the heart is filling up with blood again. A normal blood pressure can be around 120 over 80. Depending on age or pre-existing conditions, a normal blood pressure can also be slightly higher or lower.

High blood pressure is when the blood pressure in the arteries is too high for a long period of time. It is possible that high blood pressure develops or gets worse as a result of changes in the course of the pregnancy. However, in your case, the high blood pressure was determined before or at the beginning of your pregnancy.

You also have pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia causes high blood pressure. Moreover, an increased amount of fluid may build up in the tissue. This can cause the legs, hands or face, for example, to swell up. Your liver, kidneys and other organs may also no longer be able to work properly. The illness can also involve excreting too much protein via the urine.

The severe form of this condition can also cause things like blurred vision, headache, restlessness, nausea and vomiting. The condition can also affect the child.