Today marks a new national awareness day for Preeclampsia – a potentially fatal condition affecting pregnant women and their babies – hoping to create awareness on how to limit the serious health conditions with early medical intervention.
Preeclampsia affects almost one in ten pregnancies, with a risk of health issues for both mother and baby. Most cases of the condition are diagnosed by increased blood pressure or protein in urine.
Other preeclampsia warning signs to keep an eye out for include:
- Swelling of hands & face, especially around the eyes;
- Nausea or vomiting , especially suddenly, after mid pregnancy;
- Eyesight, changes in vision like seeing spots or flashing lights; partial or total loss of eyesight;
- Weight Gain of more than five pounds in a week;
- Pain , upper right belly pain, sometimes mistaken for indigestion or flu ;
- Headache – that won’t go away even after taking certain medication;
- Breathing difficulties, such as gasping, panting and shortness of breath
Speaking at the launch of the Preeclampsia Awareness Day today, Eleni Tsigas, a preeclampsia survivor and executive director of the Preeclampsia Foundation in the USA said:
“Making people in Ireland aware of the warning signs for preeclampsia will save lives.
“I am delighted to be working with the Irish government and industry here, particularly the INFANT Research Centre and Metabolomic Diagnostics, to help raise symptom awareness and encourage more people, male and female, carers and friends, to recognise this potentially fatal illness”.
There is currently no representative body or organisation in Ireland that acts as a voice for preeclampsia awareness, support and information for preeclampsia survivors.
For more tips on how to spot preeclampsia, check out the video below, visit an information site here or contact your local doctor to voice any concerns.
Video Preeclampsia Foundation
