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What Causes Tingling Sensation In Hands, Scalp And Feet With History Of Gestational Hypertension?

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Posted on Fri, 31 Jul 2015
Question: Hi there. I just asked a question in regards to my blood pressure but I must have accidentally deleted the thread. I I am the 31 year old female. Was diagnosed with just stational hypertension in my 15th week of pregnancy. I was able to wean off and totally come off of my medication within 4-5 months after my daughters birth. She is now 9 months old and I am still having symptoms of high blood pressure which include tingling in my hands and my feet and the top of my scalp, anxiety well its happening. These events only happen once or twice every few months. The only thing that seems to help it is if I lay down and rest and put a cold compress on my head and the back of my neck. It is a horrible feeling. It feels like I am about to die. During my symptoms my blood pressure is anywhere from 150 over 99 to 160 over 112. After these events have passed I feel incredibly tired, like I just cannot keep my eyes open. My mother is 61 and suffers high blood pressure. But otherwise I do not think I have any family history of blood pressure or diabetes I do way more now than I did before. I am about 50 pounds overweight
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:

Detailed Answer:

Hello!

Thank yo for asking on HCM!

Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that when dealing with hypertension and pregnancy, it is important to define which of the possible hypertension option you are experiencing.

(1) Is it really a gestational hypertension (hypertension occurring usually in the second half of pregnancy in a previously normotensive woman??

(2) Or is it a chronic hypertension, which is diagnosed by a pre-pregnancy history of hypertension, or from an elevated blood pressure >/= 140/90 mmHg before 20 weeks gestation.

(3) Or is it the third option: pre-eclampsy, but it usually occurs after 20 weeks gestation and is associated with important proteinuria and edema.

As gestational hypertension usually resolves within two months post partum, chronic hypertension is a persistent hypertension, and needs ongoing attention for a proper evaluation and treatment.

Preeclampsia symptomatology may persist even 6 months or sometimes more post partum, and may be associated with cerebro-vascular (stroke) and cardiovascular (pulmonary edema, etc), thromboembolism, hemolysis, liver dysfunction, etc.

Sometimes it is very difficult to differentiate between these three hypertension option associated with pregnancy.

Nevertheless, whichever it be, pre-eclampsia, chronic or gestational hypertension, it is important to know that if those abnormally high BP values keeps persisting, a prompt antihypertensive therapy should be started again.

You need to closely monitor your BP values (several BP measurements daily), at least for a couple of days, and ask your doctor to carefully review those readings and associated symptomatology.

Meanwhile, some blood tests are necessary: complete blood count, LDH, bilirubin, AST & ALT, INR, etc. to rule out possible systemic complications.

You should be aware that a pregnancy associated hypertension, increases the risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders in the late life. So, you need to frequently perform medical checkups, at least annually, to address these issues on a timely fashion.

Hope to have been helpful to you!

Feel free to ask me whenever you need! Greetings! Dr. Iliri

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (14 minutes later)
thanks so much for your reply. Do you have any idea as to why I would be having these troubling symptoms during my high blood pressure times? the tingling in the scalp is my first symptom and then it gets worse and very fast.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
A differential diagnosis of headache is necessary.

Detailed Answer:

Hi, again!

Abnormally high blood pressure causes excess stress over blood vessel walls and neural afferent endings.

From the other hand, a possible tensive-type headache could not be excluded.

That is why you are having such unpleasant feelings.

If you experience such complains even outside those high blood pressure bouts, it is necessary a medical interview, and neurological status examination, to investigate additional clinical symptomatology, and to find the etiological factor.

Best regards,

Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ilir Sharka

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 9545 Questions

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What Causes Tingling Sensation In Hands, Scalp And Feet With History Of Gestational Hypertension?

Brief Answer: I would recommend as follows: Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank yo for asking on HCM! Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that when dealing with hypertension and pregnancy, it is important to define which of the possible hypertension option you are experiencing. (1) Is it really a gestational hypertension (hypertension occurring usually in the second half of pregnancy in a previously normotensive woman?? (2) Or is it a chronic hypertension, which is diagnosed by a pre-pregnancy history of hypertension, or from an elevated blood pressure >/= 140/90 mmHg before 20 weeks gestation. (3) Or is it the third option: pre-eclampsy, but it usually occurs after 20 weeks gestation and is associated with important proteinuria and edema. As gestational hypertension usually resolves within two months post partum, chronic hypertension is a persistent hypertension, and needs ongoing attention for a proper evaluation and treatment. Preeclampsia symptomatology may persist even 6 months or sometimes more post partum, and may be associated with cerebro-vascular (stroke) and cardiovascular (pulmonary edema, etc), thromboembolism, hemolysis, liver dysfunction, etc. Sometimes it is very difficult to differentiate between these three hypertension option associated with pregnancy. Nevertheless, whichever it be, pre-eclampsia, chronic or gestational hypertension, it is important to know that if those abnormally high BP values keeps persisting, a prompt antihypertensive therapy should be started again. You need to closely monitor your BP values (several BP measurements daily), at least for a couple of days, and ask your doctor to carefully review those readings and associated symptomatology. Meanwhile, some blood tests are necessary: complete blood count, LDH, bilirubin, AST & ALT, INR, etc. to rule out possible systemic complications. You should be aware that a pregnancy associated hypertension, increases the risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders in the late life. So, you need to frequently perform medical checkups, at least annually, to address these issues on a timely fashion. Hope to have been helpful to you! Feel free to ask me whenever you need! Greetings! Dr. Iliri