Preeclampsia - why dangerous?

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi Hong On - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive syndrome that usually begins after the 20th week of pregnancy. It is one of the leading causes of pregnancy morbidity and mortality in pregnant women and infants worldwide.

Preeclampsia is a condition in which high blood pressure occurs in the second half of pregnancy (starting from the 20th week of pregnancy) and the presence of protein in the urine of the pregnant woman. Usually, preeclampsia develops during pregnancy and settles in the postpartum period.
Signs of preeclampsia in pregnant women may include headache, pain in the middle of the abdomen above the navel or right, blurred vision, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, edema (water retention) in the hands, face or eyelids. eyes, feeling tired. Sometimes the signs of preeclampsia are vague and can only be detected early through blood pressure measurement and urinalysis in the second half of pregnancy.
Any pregnant woman can develop preeclampsia during pregnancy, but a pregnant woman is more likely to have it if she has the following characteristics:
Over 40 years old. Pregnancy for the first time. High blood pressure before pregnancy. Have a mother or sister with preeclampsia. Had preeclampsia. Having certain medical diseases such as: Diabetes, chronic kidney disease or immune disorders such as lupus, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome...

Cases of pregnant women with severe preeclampsia will affect the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs of pregnant women. In addition, eclampsia can cause convulsions, causing serious brain damage in pregnant women. Therefore, careful assessment and monitoring of these danger signs is necessary.
Preeclampsia in pregnant women also reduces blood flow to the placenta. Therefore, the monitoring of the fetus and the assessment of fetal health should be done carefully during each antenatal check-up.
Postpartum preeclampsia, if not treated promptly, can turn into eclampsia, causing serious preeclampsia complications such as:
Postpartum eclampsia: Preeclampsia with convulsions, can cause permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain, liver, and kidneys; If not treated promptly, it can lead to death. Pulmonary edema: A condition in which fluid accumulates in the lungs, threatening the life of pregnant women. Embolism: Causes necrosis of organs in the body HELLP syndrome: Includes increased blood, increased liver enzymes and decreased platelets, can be life-threatening. Increased risk of heart disease later in life.

To consider the possibility of pre-eclampsia, the doctor will ask about your or your family's medical history, conduct an examination such as measuring blood pressure, weight, height, ultrasound, blood test at 11 weeks pregnant. up to 13 weeks and 6 days. If you belong to a group of women with a high risk of pre-eclampsia, your doctor will advise and prescribe preventive medicine. Current scientific evidence recommends that pregnant women with a high risk of pre-eclampsia be prescribed a daily low dose of aspirin. As for postpartum preeclampsia, there are currently no effective preventive measures.
On the contrary, if you are in the low-risk group for pre-eclampsia, pregnant women need to continue to have scheduled antenatal check-ups for care and early detection of diseases encountered during pregnancy.
To prevent pre-eclampsia, pregnant women need to have regular health checks and create healthy daily habits such as: Limit salty foods, eat lots of green vegetables, exercise, don't smoke, don't use substances other stimulation and limit stress,...