blood pressure
Prior to age 45, men are slightly more likely to develop high blood pressure, but certain female health issues can change these odds.
Complications
Without proper diagnosis, you may not know that your blood pressure is increasing. If you’re pregnant, high blood pressure can be especially dangerous for both you and your baby. The best way to find out if you have hypertension is by checking your blood pressure. This can be done at the doctor’s office, at home with a blood pressure monitor, or even by using a public blood pressure monitor, such as those found in shopping malls and pharmacies.

 Checking your blood pressure
 If you see a significant increase in this number the next time your blood pressure is checked, you should seek further evaluation from your healthcare provider.

 The childbearing years
 However, this usually occurs in women who have experienced high blood pressure previously, are overweight, or have a family history of hypertension. If you’re pregnant, your blood pressure may rise, so regular checkups and monitoring are recommended. Both women who have preexisting high blood pressure and women who’ve never had high blood pressure may experience pregnancy-induced
hypertension, which is related to the more serious condition called preeclampsia.

 Understanding preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a condition that affects about 5 to 8 per cent of pregnant women.  In the women it affects, it usually develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Rarely, this condition can occur earlier in pregnancy or even postpartum.  symptoms include high blood pressure, headaches, possible liver or kidney problems, and sometimes sudden weight gain and swelling. Preeclampsia is a serious condition, contributing to about 13 per cent of all maternal deaths worldwide. It typically disappears within two months after the baby is born. The following groups of females are most at risk for preeclampsia: •    females who have a history of hypertension or kidney problems

 Managing risk factors
 Expert advice for preventing high blood pressure is the same for women and men:
•          Exercise about 30 to 45 minutes per day, five days a week.
•          Eat a diet that’s moderate in calories and low in saturated fats.
Your doctor can let you know the best ways to keep your blood pressure in the normal range and your heart healthy.risk