Pre-eclampsia in pregnancy.

Byline: Nighat I Durrani

PRE-eclampsia is an uncommon yet an important condition, when the pregnant women have high blood pressure, albumen in the urine, and swelling of hands and feet, happening around delivery. The condition can have health risks for both mother and the baby, which can be avoided by regularly consulting your doctor for pre-natal care. Most common symptoms are raised blood pressure over 140/90, weight gain, severe headaches, dizziness, breathing difficulty, fatigue, nausea, vomiting with visual disturbances, like flashing lights, floaters even blurred vision.

Some women don't notice any symptoms, except on routine visits, it's important to see your doctor for regular blood pressure checkup and urine test. Pre-eclampsia can happen as early as 20 weeks in pregnancy, but it is rare as the symptoms usually begin after 34 weeks. Rarely even after birth within 48 hours of delivery and tend to go away without any squeal. Experts don't know the exact cause of, pre-eclampsia presumably lack of blood flow to placenta in uterus which could play an important role. Experts, also think due to poor nutrition and high body fat may contribute to this condition.

However, there could be some genetic factor too. The commonest risk factors are: high blood pressure that starts after 20th week of pregnancy. Patients may suffers from chronic hypertension before getting pregnant and gets worse as the pregnancy goes on. Other risk factors are the age in woman over 40 or being pregnant for the first time. She may have pregnancies less than 2 years or more than 10 years apart. A previous history of pre-eclampsia in the family, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease or rheumatoid arthritis are very helpful in diagnosing the problem.

Pre-eclampsia can cause, sometime, serious complications, therefore the patients are to be very careful if the condition is diagnosed...