What are symptoms of preeclampsia?
1 Answer
Pre eclampsia is a disorder of pregnancy characterised by the onset of high blood pressure and often a significant amount of protein in the urine.
Explanation:
SYMPTOMS
Mild pre eclampsia: high blood pressure, water retention and protein in the urine.
Severe pre eclampsia: headaches, blurred vision, inability to tolerate bright light, fatigue, nausea, vomitting, shortness of breath and a tendency to bruise easily.
Swelling in the hands and legs was originally considered an important sign for a diagnosis of pre eclampsia. Pitting edema i.e. unusual swelling notably by leaving an indentation when pressed on, can be significant. However, because swelling is a common occurence in pregnancy, it's utility as a distinguishable factor in pre eclampsia is not high. Further, a symptom such as epigenetic pain, may be misinterpreted as heartburn. Diagnosis therefore depends on finding a coincidence of several pre eclampsia features.
Pre eclampsia increases the risk of poor outcomes for both the mother and baby. If left untreated it may result in seizures and it is then known as eclampsia.
