Hyperemia

Hyperemia: A Common Problem?

The word “hyperemia” comes from the Greek words haps (meaning high) + ema (meaning blood). High blood pressure is one of the most common problems that occur during pregnancy. It occurs when there are too many fluid or electrolyte changes occurring in your body. These changes may cause you to lose water and sodium, which causes your blood volume to increase causing you to become dehydrated.

If you have high blood pressure, it will affect your heart rate and blood pressure. If you already have preeclampsia, then you may experience complications such as hypertension, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. You could even develop other problems such as a stroke or kidney failure if your condition worsens.

High blood pressure is a problem because it increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis and certain cancers. Your baby’s brain needs extra oxygen to grow properly. When you have high blood pressure, your brain does not get enough oxygen. This leads to developmental delays in babies born with preeclampsia and other complications such as low birth weight and stillbirths.

How Many Pregnancies Are Caused By High Blood Pressure?

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development states that more than 10% of the babies born in the United States each year are affected by preeclampsia.

Sources & references used in this article:

Myocardial reactive hyperemia. by RA Olsson – Circulation research, 1975 – Am Heart Assoc

Reactive hyperemia characteristics of the myocardium by JD Coffman, DE Gregg – American Journal of Physiology …, 1960 – journals.physiology.org

Myocardial reactive hyperemia in the unanesthetized dog by RA Olsson, DE Gregg – American Journal of Physiology …, 1965 – journals.physiology.org

Noninvasive identification of patients with early coronary atherosclerosis by assessment of digital reactive hyperemia by PO Bonetti, GM Pumper, ST Higano… – Journal of the …, 2004 – onlinejacc.org