High Blood pressure caused by anxiety during pregnancy?

Question

I'm 19 weeks pregnant and my Dr. has diagnosed me with high blood pressure. I have had a history of anxiety and panic attacks in the past, but never a problem with blood pressure. My main concern is that I have at home BP monitor and my blood pressure is fine at home, at the family dr, and everywhere else I go. I've tried to tell my Dr. that I have normal readings everywhere but her office but she seems to ignore that and has put me on BP medication. HAs anyone else ever dealt with this and what did you do? I've really been considering going back to the midwife that delivered my first child, although over an hour drive to get there, but I'm not even sure if she'll take me if my current Dr. has considered me "high risk" with the blood pressure ordeal! Any advice on this would be great as I'm stressed to the max!

My Bp at the dr was 160/20, 140/20, and most recently 135/20. At my family Dr's office within the same time frame was 123/70. and at home has been 117/59, 125/61, 110/60 etc.

Answer 1

I had this problem. I've always been afraid of M.D's and when I found out I was preggo I knew I had to face some of my worst fears. Of course when I went in for the first time and they checked my bp it was high, they made a big deal out of it and I was constantly obsessing over my bp my entire pregnancy. And my entire pregnancy I had high bp. Go to your midwife, if your more comfortable there have her check it a few times. I was never put on BP medication when I was pregnant. It could be possible, or likely you are suffering from white coat syndrom. Tell your dr. that you want to get an average reading of your BP and that you will monitor your BP at home as well. Right down the reading everytime you take it and then present the readings to your dr and see what they say from there. It would be hard to argue with normal readings everywhere else except their office. Also, high BP usually comes with first time moms, and second pregnancys from mom's that had the problem with their first pregnancy. So if you didn't have this problem with your first child, try to find some other opinions.
But you should make sure you tell if you have high BP in your family as well.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Anxiety High Blood Pressure

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Answer 5

Anxiety And Blood Pressure

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Answer 7

I have had gestation hypertention scince I found out I was pregnant. With readings of 200/ 110 or higher. And Have been placed on labtolil ( sp) to control it and its been working wonderful.

I too actually had major problems with panic attacks and anxiety for about a year proir to my pregnancy. But like you no problems with BP.

I also had the same problem as you with only getting high readings in the hopstial or at my OB's office. I even have a nurse that comes in daily to read my BP and only 2 times have they ever gotten a reading higher than 130/88. Now Im lucky that my OB is the best OB there is here in Canada and is world renounced for his "miracle deliveries" So the thought of changing my Doctor never crossed my mind But I have changed my Nurse( lol 4 times), bought all new home BP monitors ect. My mom who is a nurse at a retirement home comes and checks it as well And still the same its only ever high at his office.

I wouldn't rush around and change doctors, be relived that the one you have is monitoring you and has placed you as high risk even if you only seem to have a spike in BP at their office. Because that could just be the case, Your BP may in deed be fine until you go to his or her office. Next appointment ask them to take it right away, again after you have relaxed for at least 10 min and once before you leave. And compare. Request for home care to come in and check it daily.

Its stressful I know cause I have been 110% exactly were you are but trust me Its better to know that you have a doctor who's willing to do something about it than once who dosent.

Answer 8

How are you taking your pressure at home, with an automatic machine with digital reading or is someone who knows how to correctly do it manually checking it for you? The automatic machines you can buy at the drug store for home use aren't very reliable, and if you aren't positioning it exactly right, or if the cuff is the wrong size, it will give a false reading.

At the doc's office, if they get a high reading, they should be waiting for an hour or two with you lying down resting and rechecking it to confirm that it isn't an a fluke thing. If it's been high like this over more than one visits (and high means greater than 140/90), then you do have hypertension. It wouldn't be pre-eclampsia yet - usually that doesn't present itself until a bit later in pregnancy, so at this time it would be considered PIH - pregnancy induced hypertension, which may or may not turn into pre-eclampsia later on.

You're welcome to get a second opinion, and I suggest you do if your doctor cannot answer your questions to your satisfaction.

Answer 9

Ask your doctor not to take your readings until after you have spent 15-30 minutes laying on your left side. My BP always was elevated at exams too...generally due to my rushing around like a madwoman to get there on time.

Now, that being said I did develop Gestational Hypertension (high BP) as my pregnancy progressed but I never had to go on medication. That should be a last resort as it can affect the baby.

If you are uncomfortable with how this doctor is treating the issue of your BP find a new doctor. Never put your health, or the health of your unborn child, at risk with a doctor you are uncomfortable with. Trust your instincts.

Answer 10

3 years ago, I was diagnosed - hypertension with a reading of 160/100. I used to feel dizzy a lot, my legs had awful cramps, and levels were very low in my potassium, causing my fingers and toes to always cramp together. One day I started to feel really faint while I was driving with my daughter in the back seat and I passed out, hitting 3 cars and ending up in a ditch. That moment,I knew I had to do something because my meds weren't working. I heard about this diet from a friend and thought I'd give it a shot. The results have been remarkable. In just 21 days, I honestly can't remember feeling this good, my blood pressure went from 175/110 to 125/70.