Preeclampsia listed as one of leading causes of maternal morbidity

JACKSON, Tenn. — May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month.

Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide.

While all pregnant women are at risk, the condition affects non-Hispanic black women 60% more frequently than white women.

The condition may present with symptoms like high blood pressure and can cause damage to the liver or kidneys.

It often results in emergency caesarian section deliveries or pre-term births.

Talking with your doctor about prenatal vitamins, screenings, and symptoms is important.

“One of the many things your doctor can do is to aggressively treat the high blood pressure with one of the medications that we know to be safe during pregnancy. Many doctors also prescribe low dose aspirin to prevent blood clots and other challenges,” said Brian Caveney, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at LabCorp.

There’s no absolute cure, but research is underway.

The good news is that, after delivery of the baby, most cases of preeclampsia go away.

For more information about preeclampsia, click here.

For more U.S. news, click here.