Preeclampsia: Separating Fact from Fiction
Grace Weatherby
/ Categories: WELLNESS, 2024

Preeclampsia: Separating Fact from Fiction

Preeclampsia is a condition that is characterized by high blood pressure and signs of organ damage, typically involving the liver and kidneys that can occur during pregnancy or soon after childbirth. It can develop without you realizing it, so it is important to know the symptoms and stay informed about health issues and avoid misinformation in the media can lead to confusion and unnecessary anxiety. Let's take a closer look at preeclampsia to separate fact from fiction

Fact: Preeclampsia is a Serious Pregnancy Complication Preeclampsia affects at least 5-7% of all U.S. pregnancies, resulting in significant maternal and infant illness and death. The incidence has been ticking steadily upward with American women most likely to die of complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. This highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and proactive healthcare measures.

Fiction: Preeclampsia Always Occurs During Pregnancy While preeclampsia usually develops in the second half of pregnancy, it can also occur shortly after childbirth (postpartum preeclampsia) or, in rare cases, before 20 weeks of pregnancy (early-onset preeclampsia). Regular prenatal care and monitoring are crucial for early detection and management.

Fact: Preeclampsia is a Rapidly Progressive Condition Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. This condition can rapidly worsen, leading to risks such as brain injury, impaired kidney and liver function, blood clotting issues, pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), and seizures. It also affects placental blood flow, often resulting in smaller or premature babies. When severe or left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to maternal and infant death.

This is why recognizing the signs of preeclampsia is so critical.

While many of these symptoms are common discomforts of pregnancy, it’s important to call your OB/GYN right away if you experience even one sign or symptom. 

Fact: Risk Factors for Preeclampsia Exist No one knows for sure what causes preeclampsia, but there are some things that may make you more likely to have it. It’s important to know your risk factors and inform your medical practitioner of any you might have.

Certain factors can increase the risk of developing preeclampsia, such as:

  • You’ve had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy. The earlier in pregnancy you had preeclampsia, the higher your risk is to have it again. You’re also at higher risk if you had preeclampsia along with other pregnancy complications.
  • You’re pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets or more).
  • You have high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease or an autoimmune disease like lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome. Diabetes is when your body has too much sugar in the blood. This can damage organs, like blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. An autoimmune disease is a health condition that happens when antibodies (cells in the body that fight off infections) attack healthy tissue by mistake.

Other potential risk factors include:

  • You’ve never had a baby before, or it’s been more than 10 years since you had a baby.
  • You’re a person who has obesity with a body mass index (also called BMI) of 30 or higher. 
  • You have a family history of preeclampsia.
  • You had complications in a previous pregnancy, like having a baby with low birthweight (less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces).
  • You had fertility treatment (IVF) to help you get pregnant. 
  • You’re older than 35.
  • You’re Black (Rates of preeclampsia are 60% higher in black people than white people. Social, cultural, genetic, and environmental factors may play a role in these rates.)

Fiction: Alternative Therapies Can Cure Preeclampsia While maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing underlying health conditions can contribute to overall well-being during pregnancy, there is no alternative therapy or cure for preeclampsia. Medical interventions and close monitoring by healthcare providers are necessary for the safety of both mother and baby.

Fact: Low-Dose Aspirin Therapy for Prevention Research suggests that low-dose aspirin therapy may reduce the risk of preeclampsia in some pregnancies. A conversation with your healthcare provider is essential to assess individual risk profiles and determine the appropriateness of aspirin therapy based on current guidelines.

It's essential for expectant parents to rely on reliable sources for information, attend regular prenatal checkups, and promptly inform healthcare providers of any worrisome symptoms. While there's no definitive test for early preeclampsia detection, careful monitoring of blood pressure and thorough lab evaluations can assist in diagnosis and care. Increasing awareness about preeclampsia is crucial for enhancing the health outcomes of mothers and babies. Through collaborative efforts to educate and support expectant parents, healthcare professionals, and the community, we can make substantial progress in preventing and managing preeclampsia, ensuring safer pregnancies overall.

For more information about preeclampsia, visit Infographic: Preeclampsia and Pregnancy.

 

Kimberley Sampson-Paine, MD, MSc, FACOG, DipABLM, DipABOM, MSCP is the Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.

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COVID-19 Scams

Scams are almost as old as time. They always take advantage of our vulnerabilities and fears. So in times of mass panic, like has been caused by COVID-19, opportunities for scammers increase, said Southwestern Vermont Health Care's Information Technology Security Engineer Geoffrey Mazanec.

IT experts noted a 667 percent increase in malicious phishing e-mails as of the end of last month. Security firm Barracuda Networks identified 137 coronavirus-related phishing emails in January, 1,188 in February, and more than 9,000 in March. 

There are most likely several reasons for the increase.

  • First, many scams exploit our fears. As fear increases, so to opportunities for scammers. Many scams have been tweaked to include a reference to COVID-19, which may cause people to react more quickly and without thinking.
  • Scammers also exploit our desires to be good people—to pay our bills on time and follow directions—which could also be heightened during a crisis.
  • During COVID-19, everyone is conducting more business remotely. In the effort to keep all of our online activities straight, we may lose track of who is on the other end of the phone line or e-mail.
  • Mazanec notes that, with so many people out of work, scammers may have taken what had been a part-time swindling gig full time.

These startling statistics and our increased vulnerability make it a great time for a refresher about how scammers attack and how to avoid getting caught in a scheme.

Phishing. The most common way scammers operate is by phishing. They call or e-mail, usually posing to be a company or organization that you trust: the IRS, Medicare or Medicaid, or a company that you have done business with before. And they are crafty. They can even make it look as if they are calling from a business you recognize. They are counting on your thinking that they are the real thing.

"Lots of people, looking for protective equipment, for instance, are purchasing from companies that they have not dealt with in the past," Mazanec said. "Scammers want you to believe that you have purchased from them, when you have not."

They might send you an "invoice due" message with a .pdf attachment, or they might provide a link for you to click and log in. They want you to do one of two things: (1) Give up your personal information, either over the phone or by logging in to a fake sign-in page or (2) click on a .pdf or website that will infect your system.

So what can you do? Mazanec recommends not clicking. "If you don’t recognize it, don't open it. Instead, always question whether it is legitimate. And, no matter who it is, don't give anyone usernames or passwords."

Disconnect the call or delete the e-mail and call the company directly. If you don't have their number on hand, you can find it using a Google search. If you ask them whether they just called or e-mailed you, you will likely find that they have not. Congratulations. You’ve just avoided a scam.

Too good to be true. Some scammers are also selling fake products. For instance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued warnings to seven companies selling fraudulent products that claim to test for, prevent, or treat COVID-19. Some even claimed to be approved by the FDA! Other companies are taking personal information in exchange for being added to a fake list for early access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

There is no valid at-home test for COVID-19 and no viable at-home treatments, unless you count rest and plenty of fluids for mild cases. Consult with your local healthcare provider before taking any testing or treatment action, as some can be harmful or even deadly.

To avoid scams like this one, read, watch, and listen to reputable news sources. If there is a legitimate at-home test, treatment, or vaccine, you will hear reports about it from your state's department of health and other official organizations.

More information about scams related to COVID-19 can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/media/phishing.html and https://www.ftc.gov/coronavirus/scams-consumer-advice.

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