EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PREECLAMPSIA

Preeclampsia is a complication during pregnancy involving a sudden spike in blood pressure. It is a critical condition that can lead to blood clots, affecting organs such as the kidneys and liver. It affects about 4% of all pregnancies and usually develops during the last trimester of pregnancy.
If not contained in time, it may progress into the more critical eclampsia, where you experience seizures or enter a coma. If the condition progresses, it is usually fatal and often life-threatening. Therefore, it is paramount to adhere to prenatal appointments to manage health, preeclampsia, and probable disorders such as eclampsia. Book an appointment at Memorial Village Emergency Room for preeclampsia treatment.

Preeclampsia signs and symptoms

Although preeclampsia does not initial manifest symptoms, the following are some of the common signs:

• Headaches, in some cases severe
• Shortness of breath
• High blood pressure
• Presence of protein in the urine
• Lower platelet count
• Urinating less than normal
• Impaired liver function
• Nausea and vomiting, particularly in the second half of pregnancy
• Feeling unwell
• Blurry vision
• High blood pressure

If you experience the following symptoms and happen to be pregnant, it’s best to seek medical attention immediately. However, high blood pressure in expectant mothers does not always translate to preeclampsia. It should go hand in hand with several other options to rule in favor of preeclampsia. Therefore, it is advisable to visit a preeclampsia specialist near you, like Memorial Village ER.
During the third trimester of pregnancy, some individuals experience edema. The symptoms are minimal in the morning but build up during the day. It occurs in the lower parts of the body, such as the feet, and thus you should not confuse this condition with preeclampsia.
If not treated urgently, you may experience severe preeclampsia symptoms and conditions. They include:

• Eclampsia – leads to seizure and coma strike.
• Small-vessel thrombosis – entails the formation of small blood clots that obstruct arteries and veins, leading to organ failure.
• HELP syndrome – is a critical condition involving several body organs’ failure (hemolysis, low platelet count, and elevated liver syndrome).
• Fetal growth inhibition – restricts the growth of the fetus.
  Placental abruption – is the detachment of the placenta from the uterine wall leading to intrauterine bleeding.
• Organ damages – are caused by long periods of high blood pressure. The kidney, liver, heart, eyes, and lungs are prone to injury.
• Preterm birth – some women are forced to give birth early.

Preeclampsia causes

Experts are yet to establish why the condition occurs. It is, however, universally agreed that problems with placenta developments may be the cause. It’s because the blood vessels inside the placenta respond differently to hormonal signals and are usually narrow than usual, thus limiting blood flow.
We don’t know yet why blood vessels in the placenta develop differently. There are, however, some factors that contribute. They include:

• Inadequate blood flow to the uterus
• Immune system disorders
• Genetic factors
• Damage to blood vessels
• Multiple gestations
• Obesity
• Chronic blood hypertension, kidney problems, and diabetes

Preeclampsia treatment

You can’t treat the condition until the delivery happens. It is, therefore, most effective to induce delivery if your pregnancy is more than 37 weeks. Once you give birth, the blood pressure normalizes. If the pregnancy is less than 37 weeks, the doctor may consider alternative treatment after evaluating the possible complications for you and your baby.

Other treatment options

Therapeutic approaches such as anti-seizure drugs, anti-hypertensive medications, and analgesics can be administered. This treatment focuses on lowering the blood pressure and promoting the baby’s lungs development without causing any harm.
Some individuals experience high blood pressure caused by preeclampsia after childbirth. The doctor recommends follow-up with regular blood pressure measurements to ensure zero postpartum complications in such cases.

Preeclampsia: When to deliver?

If the condition occurs, the doctors recommend immediate delivery. Since the disease occurs in the third trimester, it’s safe to give birth, especially if the pregnancy is 37 weeks or more.

How to prevent preeclampsia

Due to the complex situation surrounding preeclampsia, you should prevent the condition if possible. Unfortunately, you cannot control it entirely. You can nonetheless reduce the risk of high blood pressure through the following tips:

• Reduce salt intake.
• Get regular exercise.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
• Avoid processed foods.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Have enough rest.

Combining these factors can significantly reduce the risk of emergency room preeclampsia caused by hypertensive emergencies and other blood pressure-related complications. Ensure you consult your doctor before making any lifestyle changes, especially if they involve dietary supplements or drugs.