Preeclampsia Archives - Health BeatHealth Beat

What is Eclampsia?

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Eclampsia is a condition that causes seizures during pregnancy. It is a rare complication in people with preeclampsia, which causes high blood pressure and protein in urine during pregnancy. Eclampsia generally occurs after the 20^th week of pregnancy and requires emergency medical care.

Aside from seizures, people with eclampsia may also experience severe distress, confusion, or loss of consciousness. Before the onset of these symptoms, certain warning signs may occur, such as:

Severe headaches
Nausea and vomiting
Distorted vision or loss of vision
Swelling of the hands, face, or ankles
Difficulty breathing or urinating
Abdominal pain, particularly on the upper right side of the abdomen

A few factors may increase a person’s risk of developing eclampsia. These include:

A family or personal history of preeclampsia or eclampsia (though most people with preeclampsia do not develop this condition)
Being pregnant for the first time
Twins or triplets
Autoimmune conditions
Obesity
Diabetes
Kidney disease
Pregnancy at an age younger than 17 or older than 35

While certain factors that increase your risk of eclampsia may be beyond your control, there are steps you can take to manage many of them. You should attend all of your pre-natal medical appointments and get prompt care from your doctor as needed, particularly if you experience symptoms of preeclampsia. Additionally, maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced, moderate diet and regular exercise can help to control your blood pressure.

If you have been diagnosed with eclampsia, your doctor may suggest inducing labor if the fetus is at 37 weeks gestation or more, as this is the most effective means of treating the condition and protecting the health of yourself and your baby. During pregnancy, you may also be prescribed medication to prevent seizures, lower blood pressure, and strengthen the fetus’ lungs.

You can receive treatment for eclampsia at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Women’s Health Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 291-3276. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 911 immediately.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Jamaica Hospital Welcomes Dr. Ugochi Akoma

Posted on June 25, 2021 by Michael Hinck

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center would like to introduce our community to Dr. Ugochi Akoma, our new Obstetric Gynecologist, specializing in Maternal Fetal Medicine.

Dr Akoma, who grew up in the South Bronx, earned her Bachelor and Doctor of Medicine degrees at Brown University. She returned to her Bronx roots to complete her residency at the Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. After completing her residency training, Dr. Akoma demonstrated her commitment to her caring for her community by dedicating five years of clinical service to treat thousands of underserved pregnant women in the Bronx.

During that time, Dr. Akoma encountered many high-risk patients facing challenges such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and infections in pregnancy. These experiences further inspired her goal to complete a fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. There she acquired the necessary tools to provide her patients with an expertise in diagnosing and managing high risk pregnancy conditions.

Dr. Akoma joined Jamaica Hospital earlier this year and her current title is Director of Perinatal Diagnostic Centers- Obstetric Ultrasound, and Director of Quality Improvement in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition to her training in the medical and surgical management of high-risk pregnancies, Dr. Akoma also specializes in the management of a broad range of high-risk complex medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, multifetal pregnancy, cervical insufficiency, preterm birth, and placental previa.

Dr Akoma is a first generation American who understands the health disparities many women in our community face due to reduced access to safe housing, healthy foods, education, and quality health care. Dr. Akoma recounts, “After attending the best Ivy League undergraduate and medical schools, and residency programs, and having been a witness to seeing the vast health inequities in my community, I made a personal commitment to come back home and work towards the goal of reducing maternal morbidity and mortality and adverse outcomes.”

To make an appointment with Dr. Akoma, please call Jamaica Hospital’s Women’s Health Center at 718-291-3276.

Preeclampsia Awareness Month

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Joann Ariola

Preeclampsia Awareness Month is a nationally recognized health observance that presents an opportunity to offer education to help increase awareness of this life-threatening disorder.

Preeclampsia occurs in eight percent of all pregnancies. Formerly called toxemia, preeclampsia is a condition that is marked by high blood pressure in pregnant women that have previously not experienced high blood pressure. Symptoms of preeclampsia include high levels of protein found in their urine and they may have swelling in the feet, legs and hands. Preeclampsia appears late in the pregnancy, generally after the 20 week mark, although, in some cases, it can appear earlier.

If left undiagnosed and untreated, preeclampsia can become a more serious condition called eclampsia, which can put the expectant mother and baby at risk.

There is no cure for preeclampsia, but when it is caught in its early stages, it is easier to manage.

If you are pregnant and would like to make an appointment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Women’s Health Center, call 718-291-3276, for an appointment.

High Blood Pressure and Pregnancy

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Xavia Malcolm

hypertension pregnancy -78484693 (1) Hypertension (high blood pressure) is one of the most common medical problems encountered by pregnant women. It is estimated that the disease affects six to eight percent of expecting mothers.

Women with a pre-existing history of chronic hypertension are likely to experience complications caused by the disease; however, women with no prior history are also at risk of developing high blood pressure or gestational hypertension. A high blood pressure rate during pregnancy is defined as a reading over 140/90, anything above that number is concerning.

Some women are more at risk for developing gestational hypertension than others. Your risk may be higher if you are:

African American
Carrying more than one baby
Pregnant with your first child
Over 40 years old
From a family with a history of gestational hypertension or preeclampsia
Obese

High blood pressure during pregnancy poses various medical problems not only for the mother but for the developing baby as well. Some of these problems include:

Harm to the mother’s kidneys
Placental abruption
Low birth weight
Premature labor

If left untreated, high blood pressure can develop into a serious condition known as preeclampsia. This condition is most likely to occur in women with pre-existing and chronic hypertension. The disease usually develops after the 27^th week of pregnancy and is characterized by high levels of protein in urine and elevated blood pressure levels. Women may experience symptoms such as headaches, nausea or vomiting, reduced urine or no urine output, swelling or shortness of breath.

If you have been informed by your doctor that your blood pressure levels are high it is important to get it under control immediately. You can do so by taking prescribed medications and managing your sodium intake. It is equally important that you maintain prenatal appointments to monitor the development of your baby.

For questions about prenatal care or to make an appointment with the Women’s Health Center of Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-291-3276.