Preeclampsia+EAT


 * What is it?
 * A disorder that takes place during pregnancy
 * It is present in 5-8% of all pregnancies
 * The person will experience high blood pressure and presence of protein in the urine
 * It usually occurs in the 2nd or 3rd trimester
 * The exact cause is unknown
 * It blocks blood flow in the placenta
 * Cuts off food and oxygen supply for the baby




 * Symptoms
 * Swelling
 * Weight gain
 * Headaches
 * Changes in vision
 * High blood pressure
 * Protein in urine
 * signals a problem with your kidneys
 * Vomiting blood
 * Rapid heart beat
 * Dizziness
 * Fever
 * Stomach pains


 * Who is at risk?
 * Most cases happen during a womans first pregnancy
 * Women who's mothers and/or sisters have had preeclampsia
 * Women who are going to have more than one baby (twins, triplets, etc.)
 * Pregnant teens
 * Women over the age of 40
 * Women who had/have high blood pressure
 * Women who had/have kidney disease
 * People who have African-American heritage
 * Obese women
 * Women who have gestational diabetes
 * Diagnosis
 * There is no single test to diagnose someone with preeclampsia
 * Blood pressure is measured at every doctors visit (a significant rise in blood pressure can signal preeclampsia)
 * The doctor may administer a urine test to see if there is high levels of protein
 * Blood tests may also be administered




 * What are the risks?
 * It affects the placenta (prevents it from getting enough blood)
 * The organ that carries oxygen and food to your baby
 * causing potential low birth weight
 * Most women with this disease are able to deliver healthy babies
 * The mother may suffer from seizers
 * Most problems can be prevented if the woman is diagnosed early
 * Death of the baby... death of the mother is very rare
 * The risk of developing the disease lessens as the fetus develops
 * Can leas to eclampsia
 * A disease characterized by seizers in a pregnant woman
 * Treatment
 * The woman needs to deliver her baby
 * This is unable to happen in some women if they are diagnosed too early (the baby will be at a stage where they are unable to live outside of their mothers womb
 * Lower the blood pressure
 * medicines and bed-rest can accomplish this
 * Some women may need to be hospitalized in order to keep a close eye on the baby and the mother
 * be very aware of how much or little salt you eat
 * Little salt is needed in un-pregnant women
 * Pregnant women need to have a certain amount of salt in order to keep hydrated and a regular/constant blood flow
 * Some women are instructed to take asprin and calcium to prevent preeclampsia
 * Lay on your left side (takes pressure off of your blood vessels and helps blood flow)
 * Visit the doctor regularly



http://www.preeclampsia.org/about.asp http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/complications/064.html http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000899.htm http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000898.htm [|]
 * information found from these websites: **