When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I didn't know what I was going to do. After the devastation subsided, I decided to take a very standard, western approach to my healing. Although initial efforts were successful, my cancer recurred a few months later. I endured many additional months of treatment before I started focusing on myself. I decided it was time to incorporate complimentary alternative treatments into my healing regimen, including massage therapy. I can't even begin to tell you how much it changed my life. My healing became a process, instead of something I simply had to endure. I hope that the articles on my website can inspire you to stay open-minded about your own healthcare.
When you are pregnant, you always do your best to make your health and the health of your unborn baby a priority in your daily life. However, sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you find yourself dealing with a pregnancy-related complication anyway. Preeclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine is one such condition. While the condition cannot be cured (yet) while you are pregnant, if you do find out that you have preeclampsia, there are treatment options available to you to help you overcome it. Get to know some of these treatments so that you can be prepared for your treatment regimen.
Blood Pressure Medications
One of the most noticeable symptoms of preeclampsia is high blood pressure. This restricts the blood vessels in the body and makes it more difficult for your heart to pump blood to keep you and your growing baby alive and healthy. As such, one of the primary treatments for preeclampsia is prescription medications to lower the blood pressure.
Your doctor will check your blood pressure frequently and will likely have you check it at home as well to see if your blood pressure gets into dangerous levels. A slightly elevated blood pressure, though worrisome, is not considered dangerous to you or your baby.
However, if the numbers creep up above 140/90, then blood pressure medications may be prescribed. Be sure that your ob/gyn approves any blood pressure medications you are prescribed from another physician, as some are not considered safe for use during pregnancy.
Steroid Treatments and Anti-Seizure Medications
When preeclampsia is severe, more aggressive treatments are needed to keep you safe and to help prepare your baby for an early delivery. Unfortunately, the only way to get rid of preeclampsia is to have the baby. To ensure their babies' health, many women undergo treatments to prolong their pregnancy as much as possible before delivery becomes a medical necessity..
If a your blood pressure gets and stays dangerously high, you are at risk of having a seizure. In addition to monitoring and hospitalization, doctors may recommend that you take medications to prevent a seizure. At the same time, a prenatal doctor may also put you on steroid treatments for your unborn baby. The corticosteroids help speed your child's lung development so they will be more likely to breathe on their own when they are delivered.
Possible Future Treatment With Diabetes Drug
Currently, research is being done on preeclampsia treatments using a drug commonly prescribed for diabetes. This medication, known as metformin has been shown to improve the function and dilation of the blood vessels that occurs when a woman has preeclampsia.
While this medication is still being tested and studied, future treatment of preeclampsia and related health ailments may be much improved by a treatment that can better prevent preeclampsia from becoming too severe. This can mean later delivery times and better health for both the mother and child.
Now that you know more about treating preeclampsia, you can better take care of yourself and your unborn child, should you develop the condition. If you have further questions, talk to a doctor like those at Women's Healthcare of Illinois for more information.
Share7 January 2016
