The rate of blood pressure or chronic hypertension among pregnant women aged 35 and over in the United States has gone up by more than 75 percent since 1970, researchers found, including one of the Indian origin.

In the study, published in the journal Hypertension, the research team looked at over 151 million pregnant women in the U.S. between 1970-2010.

"Women are having children later than in the 1970s and 1980s - and are experiencing higher rates of hypertension during pregnancy as a result," said the research lead Cande V. Ananth from Rutgers University.

According to researchers, the increase in chronic hypertension is associated with advanced maternal age and the rate of increase in blood pressure is found to be six percent per year on an average, 13 times what it was in 1970.

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Compared to white women, black women have high rates of obesity and are more probable to smoke and use drugs. They are also at a greater social disadvantage, all of which may lead to an increased risk of chronic hypertension, according to prior research.

"The best outcome would be to control hypertension before becoming pregnant by reducing obesity, quitting smoking, adopting an overall healthier lifestyle before and during pregnancy, and treating high blood pressure effectively. For every 1-2 lbs. lost prior to pregnancy, blood pressure is reduced," Ananth said.

"Not only do these findings have implications for the health of the women and newborns during pregnancy, but they also have lasting implications on future risks of cardiovascular and stroke risks in women later in life," he added.

High blood pressure or chronic hypertension during pregnancy can act as additional stress on your heart and kidneys and can increase your risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke.

By Sowmya Sangam