Preeclampsia is a dangerous condition affecting pregnant women, with symptoms including high blood pressure and protein in the urine. It is responsible for the majority of maternal deaths worldwide and can be diagnosed through regular prenatal care. Delivery is the only cure, and risk factors include pre-existing high blood pressure and multiple births.
Preeclampsia, also known as toxemia, is a life-threatening condition that affects only pregnant women, usually in the late second or third trimester, and postnatal women in the first six weeks after giving birth. It comes on quite suddenly, with two main symptoms being protein in the urine and high blood pressure. Preeclampsia occurs in about eight percent of pregnancies and is only treated by terminating the pregnancy, either by induction of labor or by cesarean section.
Statistics show that preeclampsia and related pregnancy disorders, such as eclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), are responsible for the majority of maternal deaths, as well as death and disease among children, worldwide . About 76,000 women die each year from the disorder. Other symptoms of preeclampsia include sudden weight gain over a short period of time, fluid retention, headaches, and vision problems.
Preeclampsia can be particularly dangerous because some women experience no symptoms at all. This is why adequate prenatal care is imperative to diagnose this condition. At each checkup, your obstetrician will look at your preeclampsia symptoms by monitoring your weight, measuring your blood pressure, and soaking your urine for protein.
High blood pressure, which is indicated at a reading above 140/90 taken at two different times within six hours, is a prominent symptom of preeclampsia. Edema, or swelling, of the hands and face is a particular concern. Sometimes this goes unnoticed because some degree of swelling is expected with all pregnancies.
Another important symptom of preeclampsia is proteinuria, or protein in the urine. This occurs when the small blood vessels of the kidneys are damaged and protein that should only be present in the blood leaks into the urine. Sudden weight gain is defined as two pounds (9 kilograms) or more in one week or a monthly gain of six pounds (2.72 kilograms) or more. Other symptoms include persistent headaches, vomiting or nausea that occurs in the second or third trimester, vision problems or changes, and a rapid heart rate. Hyperreflexia and some pain, particularly pain in the right shoulder, stomach, or lower back, are also possible symptoms of preeclampsia.
There are risk factors for some women that make them more likely to develop preeclampsia. Women who are pregnant for the first time have a higher risk of developing preeclampsia. Pre-existing high blood pressure, diabetes, lupus, a family history of preeclampsia, and multiple births all increase your risk.
While no distinct cause is known yet, scientists believe that preeclampsia has something to do with an abnormally located placenta that progresses to becoming hypoxic. Once preeclampsia is diagnosed, doctors do their best to monitor the mother until the baby is far enough away to be delivered safely. The only cure is delivery, and the life-or-death situation often leads to the birth of a premature infant.
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