PREECLAMPSIA, INCLUDING HELLP SYNDROME AND ECLAMPSIA, IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION OF PREGNANCY THAT CAN, IN ITS SEVEREST FORM, LEAD TO MATERNAL AND/OR INFANT MORTALITY OR PREMATURE BIRTH WITH SIGNIFICANT HEALTH RISKS FOR THE MOTHER AND BABY.
AS MANY AS 320,000 CASES OF PREECLAMPSIA ARE DIAGNOSED IN AMERICA EVERY YEAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 25% RESULTING IN SEVERE, LIFE THREATENING CONSEQUENCES TO A PREGNANT WOMAN AND HER BABY.
PUBLIC EDUCATION AS TO THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PREECLAMPSIA, HELLP SYNDROME AND ECLAMPSIA CAN HELP WOMEN TO RECOGNIZE THE CONDITION AND SEEK APPROPRIATE MEDICAL CARE.
PRENATAL EDUCATION SHOULD INCLUDE RECOGNITION OF THOSE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS (SPIKES IN MATERNAL BLOOD PRESSURE, SUDDEN SWELLING OF FACE AND HANDS, SEVERE UPPER ABDOMINAL PAIN, BLURRED VISION, PERSISTENT HEADACHES, BREATHLESSNESS).
MANY CITIZENS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF UNION HAVE JOINED WITH THE PREECLAMPSIA FOUNDATION TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE MATERNAL AND INFANT ILLNESS AND DEATH DUE TO PREECLAMPSIA.