"Preeclampsia" causes and symptoms explained by Dr. Rama Sofat and Dr. Amit Sofat of Dr. Rama Sofat Hospital

"Preeclampsia" causes and symptoms explained by Dr. Rama Sofat and Dr. Amit Sofat of Dr. Rama Sofat Hospital

Preeclampsia occurs when a woman have high blood pressure and protein in urine during pregnancy. It can happen at any point after the 20th week of pregnancy, though in some cases it occurs earlier. It may also cause low clotting factors (platelets) in blood or indicators of kidney or liver trouble. This condition is also called toxemia or pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH).

Causes of preeclampsia

As per Dr. Rama Sofat of Dr. Rama Sofat hospital one cannot yet identify one single cause of preeclampsia, but some potential causes are being explored. These include:

1. Genetic factors.

2. Diet.

3. Blood vessel problems.

4. Autoimmune disorders

There are also risk factors that can increase your chances of developing preeclampsia. These include:

Being pregnant with multiple fetuses,being over the age of 35,being in your
early teens,being pregnant for the first time,being obese,having a history of high blood pressure,having a history of diabetes,having a history of a kidney disorder.

Overweight lady

How pre-eclampsia affects your unborn baby

As explained by Dr. Rama Sofat the main sign of pre-eclampsia in the unborn baby is slow growth. This is caused by poor blood supply through the placenta to the baby. The growing baby receives less oxygen and fewer nutrients than it should, which can affect development. This is called ‘intra-uterine growth restriction’, or ‘intra-uterine growth retardation’.

Pre-eclampsia symptoms

Early symptoms:

Dr.Rama Sofat briefs that women suffering from preeclampsia develops these symptoms:

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Proteinuria (protein in the urine)

Progressive symptoms

Progressive symptoms as explained by Dr. Rama Sofat:

Severe headaches

Vision problems, such as blurring or seeing flashing lights

Dizziness

Pain in the upper abdomen (just below the ribs)

Shortness of breath

Nausea and vomiting

Excessive weight gain due to fluid retention

Feeling generally unwell.

Headache one of the symptom

As explained by Dr. Rama Sofat, high blood pressure affects 10% of all pregnant women, so this alone does not suggest preeclampsia. However, the presence of protein in the urine is a good indicator of the condition.

As preeclampsia develops, it can cause fluid retention (oedema), which often causes sudden swelling of the feet, ankles, face and hands. Oedema is another common symptom of pregnancy, but it tends to be in the lower parts of the body, such as the feet and ankles. It will gradually build up during the day. If the swelling is sudden, and it particularly affects the face and hands, it could be preeclampsia.

Swollen feet due to preeclampsia

What is the treatment of preeclampsia?

Dr. Rama Sofat explains that delivery of baby is the only cure for preeclampsia. Doctor will monitor and manage your condition to ensure you and your baby stay healthy.

If your preeclampsia is mild, then follow these methods as described by Dr. Rama Sofat: