{"id":1736,"date":"2023-08-08T13:16:43","date_gmt":"2023-08-08T13:16:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/?p=1736"},"modified":"2023-08-08T13:16:43","modified_gmt":"2023-08-08T13:16:43","slug":"what-is-preeclampsia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/what-is-preeclampsia\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Preeclampsia?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Preeclampsia will often be defined as a severe blood pressure condition that occurs during pregnancy. It most often shows itself as hypertension with proteinuria (high levels of protein in the urine). The condition usually develops in women after their 20th week of being pregnant. The condition may also affect other organs and may be harmful to both the mother and the developing baby. Because of the risks involved, the condition needs to be addressed by medical professionals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Our experts in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">obstetrics and gynecology in South Miami, Florida<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, understand the dangers associated with preeclampsia. As such, we\u2019ve written this comprehensive article so that pregnant women can better understand the risks and get proper medical assistance if they suspect they might have preeclampsia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Understanding Preeclampsia<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When dealing with the condition, the patient\u2019s blood pressure will usually be higher than 140\/90 mmHg, and they may also have higher protein concentrations in their urine. The condition can put unwanted stress on the heart and other organs, leading to severe complications. To make matters worse, it may also negatively affect the placenta\u2019s blood flow, impair kidney and liver function, and cause fluid buildup in the lungs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This pregnancy-specific condition affects around 8 percent of all pregnancies across the globe, and in the US, it usually complicates around 15 percent of pregnancies. The condition tends to be more common in first-time mommies, and experts aren\u2019t sure about preeclampsia&#8217;s causes. Still, the following are considered risk factors:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A history of diabetes, hypertension, or kidney diseases<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Family history of the condition<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Expecting multiples<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lupus and other autoimmune conditions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Being obese<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1738\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Understanding-Preeclampsia.jpg\" alt=\"A Female Doctor Is Measuring the Blood Pressure of Her Patient in the Ob-Gyn Office.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Understanding-Preeclampsia-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Understanding-Preeclampsia-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Understanding-Preeclampsia-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Understanding-Preeclampsia-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Understanding-Preeclampsia-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Understanding-Preeclampsia-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Understanding-Preeclampsia.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Preeclampsia Causes and Symptoms<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As mentioned above, the medical community isn\u2019t entirely sure about the causes. Generally, it\u2019s believed to stem from a placenta-related health problem; more specifically, the decreased blood supply might decrease, leading to preeclampsia and other problems both for the fetus and the mother.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The condition usually develops after the 20th week of pregnancy, but it may also occur earlier. In some cases, it may develop after delivery, referred to as postpartum preeclampsia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The condition may lead to preterm delivery, which means that the baby will be at an increased risk for several health complications, such as respiratory issues, low birth weight, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When talking about preeclampsia symptoms, it\u2019s important to note that most patients show no signs of the condition. For those that do show symptoms, the first signs of preeclampsia will usually be water retention, hypertension, and proteinuria.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On that note, other signs of the condition may include the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Light sensitivity, blurry vision<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Headaches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Abdominal pain on the right side<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Edema<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dark spots in your vision<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shortness of breath<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s crucial to share all pregnancy symptoms with your provider. Many pregnant women aren\u2019t aware that they have preeclampsia until they get their urine and blood pressure checked during their prenatal appointments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On the other hand, severe preeclampsia may produce the following symptoms:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Extremely high blood pressure that constitutes an emergency<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fluid in the lungs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Impaired liver and kideny functions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Thrombocytopenia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Decreased urine production<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Diagnosing Preeclampsia<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For the most part, experts usually diagnose the condition during routine prenatal checkups. When they suspect preeclampsia, doctors will usually:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Order a few additional blood tests to check liver and kidney functions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ask you to bring in a urine sample to check for proteinuria<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Order an ultrasound to check the fetus\u2019 size and examine the amniotic fluid volume.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Typically, experts will categorize preeclampsia either as mild or severe. Mild preeclampsia will usually mean that the mother has proteinuria and hypertension. With severe preeclampsia, the patient will have other accompanying symptoms we\u2019ve described already above.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Treating Preeclampsia<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Treatment will depend on the severity of the condition and how far along the mother is in her pregnancy. In cases when the pregnancy is close to full term (37 weeks or past that), the baby will most probably be delivered early. Sometimes, doctors will recommend a C-section, but that doesn\u2019t mean that women can\u2019t have a vaginal birth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In other cases, the provider may administer medication to the mother to support the development of the baby\u2019s lungs and to lower the mother\u2019s blood pressure until delivery can commence. There are cases when early delivery is less risky than prolonging the pregnancy with preeclampsia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the condition develops even earlier in pregnancy, providers will monitor the mother closely, allowing the fetus to develop and grow. Naturally, this will mean more prenatal appointments, blood tests, ultrasounds, and urine tests. In more severe cases, mothers are advised to stay in the hospital until they can go into labor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lastly, there\u2019s no cure for the condition, meaning; only delivery can resolve the issue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How to Prevent Preeclampsia?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How to prevent preeclampsia? For those at higher risk of developing the condition, some adjustment before becoming pregnant may lower the chances. These strategies include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Losing excess weight if you are obese or overweight.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Controlling your blood sugar and blood pressure, especially if you\u2019ve3 had problems with diabetes and hypertension before becoming pregnant.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Striving to get in regular exercise.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Getting in quality sleep.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Eating a balanced diet filled with healthy food, low in sodium.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Minimizing your caffeine intake.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, some argue that taking baby aspirin every day may decrease the risk of developing the condition by around 15 percent. That said, if you are considered high-risk for preeclampsia, your provider might recommend starting your aspirin regimen early in your pregnancy \u2013 by around 12 weeks of gestation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Complications of Preeclampsia<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As highlighted above, the condition may lead to severe complications if left untreated and may have fatal consequences both to the fetus and the mother.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The most common complications before delivery are usually preterm birth, placental abruption, or low birth weight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On the other hand, preeclampsia is known to cause <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.preeclampsia.org\/hellp-syndrome\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">HELLP syndrome<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (or hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count). This is a consequence of the condition damaging the red blood cells and the liver, interfering with blood clotting. The other symptoms of the syndrome often include chest pain, blurry vision, nosebleeds, and headaches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, after delivering the baby, mothers may be at an increased risk for the following medical problems:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kidney disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Heart attack<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Problems with preeclampsia in future pregnancies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stroke<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1739\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Complications-of-Preeclampsia.jpg\" alt=\"Pregnant Mother With Toddler Daughter Relaxing Together in Bed at Home\" width=\"1000\" height=\"737\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Complications-of-Preeclampsia-200x147.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Complications-of-Preeclampsia-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Complications-of-Preeclampsia-400x295.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Complications-of-Preeclampsia-600x442.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Complications-of-Preeclampsia-768x566.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Complications-of-Preeclampsia-800x590.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/08\/Complications-of-Preeclampsia.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Summing it Up<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Preeclampsia is a severe condition that may go undetected. It is vital to attend all prenatal appointments and communicate openly about any pregnancy symptoms. Early detection enables effective treatment and management, safeguarding the well-being of both the mother and the fetus. The good news is that with timely intervention, most individuals with preeclampsia can successfully deliver healthy babies. Prioritizing your health during pregnancy is imperative for a positive and healthy outcome.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That said, if you\u2019d like to learn more about the condition or may have any concerns regarding it, feel free to reach out to our expert team. We are more than ready to assist you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Preeclampsia will often be defined as a severe blood pressure condition that occurs during pregnancy. It most often shows itself as hypertension with proteinuria (high levels of protein in the urine). The condition usually develops in women after their 20th week of being pregnant. The condition may also affect other organs and may be harmful  [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1737,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[444],"tags":[449,445,448,446,447],"class_list":["post-1736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-preeclampsia","tag-how-to-prevent-preeclampsia","tag-preeclampsia","tag-preeclampsia-causes","tag-preeclampsia-symptoms","tag-what-is-preeclampsia"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1736"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1736\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}