Not moving enough while pregnant linked to high blood pressure risk
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Spending excessive time sitting and insufficient light exercise during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of developing serious high blood pressure complications.
Research indicated that over 10 hours of inactivity and fewer than five hours of light exercise daily “exponentially” raised this likelihood, regardless of the trimester.
High blood pressure disorders, such as gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia, affect 8-10 per cent of all pregnancies and can lead to severe conditions like eclampsia.
A study of 470 women using 24-hour activity trackers found that 18 per cent developed a high blood pressure disorder, with risks sharply increasing for those with high sedentary time.
Experts suggest limiting inactivity to eight hours a day and increasing light exercise to seven hours daily for the best chance of avoiding these conditions, while also calling for more research and personalised midwifery advice.
