Primary prevention
The mainstay of primary prevention is appropriate screening and treatment of essential hypertension.
In the US, around 25% of all hypertensive individuals are unaware of their illness, 35% are not being treated, and 52% of those being treated are not at goal blood pressure levels.[52][53] See Essential hypertension (Prevention).
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends low-dose aspirin for pre-eclampsia prophylaxis. This should be initiated between 12 weeks and 28 weeks of gestation (optimally before 16 weeks of gestation) and continued until delivery.[48]
Any of the high-risk factors for pre-eclampsia: previous pregnancy with pre-eclampsia, multi-fetal gestation, renal disease, autoimmune disease, type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, and chronic hypertension.
More than one of the moderate-risk factors: first pregnancy, maternal age ≥35 years, body mass index >30, family history of pre-eclampsia, sociodemographic characteristics, and personal history factors.
Secondary prevention
Major lifestyle modifications shown to lower blood pressure include the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan, dietary sodium reduction, weight reduction in overweight patients, physical activity, and moderation of alcohol consumption.[38][100] For women with severe pre-eclampsia, low-dose aspirin (starting at 12-14 weeks' gestation) is recommended in subsequent pregnancies. See Pre-eclampsia (Prevention).
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