Pregnancy-induced hypertension, also known as pre-eclampsia, toxemia of pregnancy, or by the acronym PIH, is a serious condition. Symptoms include high blood pressure, swelling, and protein in your urine. The usual treatment for PIH is bed rest or, if the fetus is mature, delivery. If you already have PIH, exercise can be dangerous. You should follow your doctor's recommendations. However, new information suggests that regular exercise can help prevent PIH.
Complications of PIH
PIH is dangerous to the baby because it can restrict blood flow to the placenta, your baby's source of oxygen and nutrients. If the placenta doesn't get enough blood, your baby gets less oxygen and food. This can lead to low birth weight and other complications for the baby, according to Family Doctor.org. Any form of exercise that raises blood pressure can further restrict the flow of blood to the placenta.
At-Risk Pregnancies
According to the American Pregnancy Association, PIH is more common in first-time mothers, women whose mothers or sisters had it, women carrying multiples, teenage mothers and women older than 40. You are also at a higher risk for PIH if you had high blood pressure or kidney disease before becoming pregnant. PIH is usually detected at a prenatal visit through blood pressure monitoring and urine testing.
Current Treatment for PIH
Treatment of PIH depends on the development of the baby. According to the American Pregnancy Association, if you are close to your due date and the baby is mature enough, your doctor will probably want to deliver. If your PIH is not severe and your baby is not mature enough, your doctor will probably recommend bed rest, lying on your left side to take the weight off your major blood vessels, consuming less salt, and staying hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. Sometimes blood pressure medications will be prescribed to control more severe PIH. Exercise is typically not recommended after PIH is diagnosed.
Prevention of PIH
Although exercise is typically not recommended to treat PIH, recent studies have shown that exercise can help prevent PIH and its complications. In a population-based study published in "Birth" in 2010, researchers from the University of North Carolina reported that physical activity during pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of blood-pressure-related complications during pregnancy. In a separate study published in the "Journal of Hypertension," researchers from the University of Montreal used mice that are known to develop PIH during pregnancy and divided them into 2 groups -- one group exercised before and during pregnancy in exercise cages while the second group remained sedentary. Compared to the sedentary mice, the mice that exercised had lower blood pressure, less protein in their urine, and fewer placental and heart complications. These studies may change the future recommendations for exercising during pregnancy, particularly in women at risk for PIH.
References
- American Pregnancy Association; Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH): Preeclampsia or Toxemia; December 2005
- Family Doctor.org; Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension; January 2010
- "Birth"; Physical Activity and Hypertensive Complications During Pregnancy: Findings from 2004 to 2006 North Carolina Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System; C.L. Martin, et al.; September 2010
- "Journal of Hypertension"; Exercise Training Can Attenuate Preeclampsia-like Features in an Animal Model; S. Falcao, et al.; December 2010
