What is pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH)?
Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a form of high blood pressure in pregnancy. It occurs in about 5 percent to 8 percent of all pregnancies. Another type of high blood pressure is chronic hypertension – high blood pressure that is present before pregnancy begins. Pregnancy-induced hypertension is also called toxemia or preeclampsia. It occurs most often in young women with a first pregnancy. It is more common in twin pregnancies, in women with chronic hypertension, preexisting diabetes, and in women who had PIH in a previous pregnancy. Usually, there are three primary characteristics of this condition, including the following: • high blood pressure (a blood pressure reading higher than 140/90 mm Hg, or a significant increase in one or both pressures) • protein in the urine • edema (swelling) Eclampsia is a severe form of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Women with eclampsia have seizures resulting from the condition. Eclampsia occurs in about one in 1,600 pregnancies and develops n
