Preeclampsia and Eclampsia Information
- By:Juliet Cohen
Preeclampsia/eclampsia is a complex hypertensive disorder of pregnancy affecting multiple systems. Preeclampsia is a condition that pregnant women can get. Preeclampsia and eclampsia are complications of pregnancy. In preeclampsia, the woman has dangerously high blood pressure, swelling, and protein in the urine.
Mild pre-eclampsia at term is less likely to recur (5-10%) and when it does, it's usually mild again. After severe pre-eclampsia, recurrence rate is about 20-25% in subsequent pregnancies. After eclampsia, about 25-30% of subsequent pregnancies will be complicated by pre-eclampsia, but only 2% with eclampsia again.
About 7% of all nulliparas develop preeclampsia. The disease is most common in mothers under the age of 20, or over the age of 35.
Other risk factors include poverty, multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc.), pre-existing chronic hypertension or kidney disease, diabetes, excess amniotic fluid, and a condition of the fetus called nonimmune hydrops. Eclampsia is the final and most severe phase of preeclampsia and occurs when preeclampsia is left untreated. In addition to the previously mentioned signs of preeclampsia, women with eclampsia often have seizures. Eclampsia can cause coma and even death of the mother and baby and can occur before, during, or after childbirth. Eclampsia can cause coma and even death of the mother and baby. Low levels of vitamin D may be a risk factor for preeclampsia. Preeclampsia can prevent the placenta from receiving enough blood, which can cause your baby to be born very small.
It is also one of the leading causes of premature births and the difficulties that can accompany them, including learning disabilities, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and hearing and vision problems. With mild preeclampsia, treatment may be limited to bed rest, with careful daily monitoring of weight, blood pressure, and urine protein via dipstick. Increased dietary protein has been suggested to reduce the incidence of pre-eclampsia. Magnesium can be injected into the veins to prevent eclampsia-related seizures. Hydralazine or another antihypertensive drug to manage severe elevations of blood pressure. A large trial of low-dose aspirin has confirmed that it has a place in prevention of pre-eclampsia. Close monitoring by practitioners will help decrease the complications of these conditions.
Preeclampsia and Eclampsia Treatment Tips
1. Monitoring fluid intake.
2. Calcium supplementation has also been suggested
3. Fish oil supplementation may help prevent preeclampsia.
4. Close monitoring by practitioners will help decrease the complications of these conditions.
5. Magnesium can be injected into the veins to prevent eclampsia-related seizures.
6. Hydralazine or another antihypertensive drug to manage severe elevations of blood pressure.About the author:
Juliet Cohen writes articles for Diseases. She also writes articles for Makeup and Hairstyles.