Pregnancy: chronic and pregnancy-induced hypertension

During pregnancy, women must be aware of two forms of hypertension:

• chronic hypertension, which occurs regardless of the physiological changes caused by the pregnant body; and
• pregnancy-induced hypertension – also called pre-eclampsia or eclampsia – which is a direct result of the physiological changes owing to pregnancy.

These two hypertensive conditions are often treated and managed in the same way and carry the same risks, which can include placental abruption, maternal bleeding, premature birth, low birth weight and, in extreme cases, neonatal or maternal death.

For the mother, hypertension in pregnancy has been shown to increase the likelihood of developing chronic hypertension and cardiovascular diseases later in life. While the effects of a hypertensive pregnancy for the infant are less direct, there is a causal link between such a pregnancy and adverse effects on the child’s blood pressure owing to a low birth weight. Low birth weight is one of the top three risk factors for developing high blood pressure in childhood and later life.