Preeclampsia is the medical term used to refer to the condition of having high blood pressure and excessive protein. The disorder is only one of four high blood pressure illnesses that pregnant women may suffer from. The other three high blood pressure disorders that can occur during a women’s pregnancy period include chronic hypertension, gestation disorders, and preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension. The only way to have this condition cured is by birth of the child. When treated, both the mother and the child will be healthy. But if left untreated and unattended to, the condition may result in severe and serious complications and sometimes even death.

Preeclampsia Diagnoses and Tests

The condition called preeclampsia is normally discovered during the routine urine and blood pressure checkup. The following additional tests will be recommended by a doctor once he diagnoses a woman to be suffering from the condition:

1. Prolonged urine collection tests

2. Blood tests

3. Biophysical test or the nonstress test

4. Fetal ultrasounds

Symptoms of Preeclampsia

The condition is said to be usually discovered after a woman’s 20 weeks into pregnancy. However, preeclampsia is noted to continually but gradually develop throughout the woman’s pregnancy period. The symptoms of this condition may include but should not be limited to the following:

1. Excessive protein present in the urine

2. Minimized urine output

3. High blood pressure

4. Blurred and oversensitivity to light vision

5. Unbearable headaches

6. Sudden weight gain

7. Vomiting and nausea

Causes of Preeclampsia

Once thought to be caused by a toxin in the woman’s bloodstream, preeclampsia and its causes still remain under strict research and scientific studies by experts. For now the possible causes of the disorder have been attributed to the following:

1. Poor pregnancy diet

2. Problem with the woman’s immune system

3. Possible damage to the blood vessels

4. Insufficient blood supply in the uterus

Treatment and Prevention of Preeclampsia

As mentioned earlier in the article, the only possible way to get rid of the condition is to have the baby delivered although the doctor may recommend other possible treatments when delivery of the baby is still too early and obviously will pose more harm than good both to the mother and the unborn child. In this case, some medication may be advised for the mother to take and follow to help lower her blood pressure. The doctor will also most likely recommend a complete bed rest for the pregnant woman.

In the even that delivery of the baby is recommended and possible, the doctor will intravenously give the pregnant woman magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures and induce an increased blood flow during the delivery. Within weeks after the delivery, the woman’s blood pressure should go back to its normal rate and should therefore cause no additional worry health wise.

With the cause of the disorder still being in discussion and research, there too has been no known way as to its prevention. However, the constant and regular intake of vitamin D is highly recommended by doctors as it lowers the risk for a women to acquire preeclampsia during her pregnancy period.