Humrahi

Management of Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Avoid Salt and High Sodium Foods

  • When cooking, avoid using a lot of salt.
  • Instead, use herbs and spices to flavor your cuisine.
  • Stay away from processed foods, fast food, and sports drinks.
  • Avoid canned foods because they are frequently rich in salt.

 

Controlled Breathing

  • Lie down comfortably on your back.
  • Place your hands on your chest and below the rib cage.
  • Inhale slowly through your nose, and feel the tummy rise.
  • Exhale slowly counting to 5, while keeping abdominal muscles firm.
  • Repeat 10 times while regular & slow breathing.

 

Enjoy Walking

  • Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day, or on most days of the week.
  • For beginners, low-intensity walking or swimming are good options.
  • Before beginning any workout program, always consult your doctor.

 

Add potassium-rich foods to your diet

  • Foods you should add include sweet potatoes, tomatoes, kidney beans, orange juice, bananas, peas, potatoes, dried fruits, melon and cantaloupe.

 

Listen to music

  • Listen to the right type of music for at least 30 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day
  • Low-tempo and low-pitch music, without lyrics or loud instrumentals, can calm people down

 

Monitor Your Weight

  • A proper diet and regular exercise are ways to manage your weight gain during pregnancy
  • Being overweight raises the chance of additional pregnancy-related health problems such as back pain, fatigue, and leg cramps.

 

References:

  1. “High Blood Pressure during Pregnancy.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019, www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/pregnancy.htm.
  2. Kattah, Andrea G., and Vesna D. Garovic. “The Management of Hypertension in Pregnancy.” Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease, vol. 20, no. 3, May 2013, pp. 229–239, https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ackd.2013.01.014.