Preeclampsia: Everything you need to know about this serious hypertensive condition – INSIDER

When you're pregnant, it can feel like there's so much to learn: Why you should steer clear of certain foods, what happens during labor, how to prep for when the baby actually arrives.

While you might not want to add something else to the list, there's one serious condition that's smart to have on your radar: Preeclampsia, formerly called toxemia.

Developing preeclampsia while pregnant can be dangerous for your baby and you. For babies, it can lead to growth restriction, preterm delivery, or even stillbirth, says Sandy Dorcelus, MD, an OB-GYN at NYU Winthrop Hospital.

For you, preeclampsia puts you at risk of developing potentially life-threatening conditions such as:

Preeclampsia has been known for centurieswe're talking as far back as ancient Greece. Today, it's estimated to affect close to 5 percent of pregnancies worldwide. It's a type of hypertensive disorder that occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy.

It will usually happen "after 20 weeks of gestation in a woman with previously normal blood pressure," says Dorcelus.

Normal blood pressure for a pregnant person is about the same, or lower, as before pregnancy. So about 120/80 mm Hg or less. If you have preeclampsia, "the target number for diagnosis is blood pressure greater than 140/90," Dorcelus says.

In order to determine if you have preeclampsia, doctors will measure your blood pressure at least twice over a span of at least 4 hours to make sure your elevation in blood pressure isn't just temporary. After that, once you've been diagnosed with preeclampsia, doctors will act fast.

"Preeclampsia can worsen quickly, within hours, and severe cases can include persistent headaches, blurred vision, and epigastric paina sign that the liver may be affected," says Dorcelus. That means it's vital to let your doctor know immediately if you're experiencing any of the signs and symptoms of the condition.

Warning signs of preeclampsia during pregnancy include:

"A pregnant woman with high blood pressure already has vascular issues and the placenta is already compromised, putting that woman at an increased risk for developing preeclampsia," says Dorcelus.

Preeclampsia can also occur after you've given birth usually within the first 12 weeks.Warning signs of preeclampsia after birth are similar to those during pregnancy, including persistent headaches, blurry vision, and high blood pressure.

Over the last 20 years, the rate of preeclampsia in the US has jumped 25 percent, according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).

One possible explanation for why is because certain risk factors have become more prevalent, like maternal age, obesity, and vascular diseases, according to a 2016 review published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

More specifically, Dorcelus says risk factors include:

"Treatment of the condition is delivery," says Dorcelus.

However, if you aren't close to your due date and don't have severe symptoms, management might include blood pressure medications, weekly fetal testing and close monitoring to make sure things aren't getting worse, she says.

If you develop preeclampsia after giving birth, postpartum treatment is magnesium and hospitalization.

For women who are at a high-risk of developing preeclampsiafor instance, if you've had it before or have chronic hypertension your doctor might suggest a daily baby aspirin starting before the 16-week mark, says Dorcelus.

If you have any risk factors, it's important to talk with your doctor.

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Preeclampsia: Everything you need to know about this serious hypertensive condition - INSIDER