Let’s break down preeclampsia in a simple, easy-to-understand way. Preeclampsia is a blood pressure disorder that can happen during pregnancy, and it often comes with symptoms like a headache that doesn’t go away with usual medications, blurry vision, pain in the upper right part of your abdomen, and elevated blood pressure. Sometimes, doctors also find protein in your urine.
Now, why do all of these things happen at once? It all goes back to the cells that line your blood vessels, called endothelial cells. These cells help keep your blood and fluids inside your blood vessels where they belong. But during pregnancy, we believe that something from the placenta can damage these cells, causing the blood vessels to malfunction. This can lead to high blood pressure because your blood vessels aren’t working properly, and fluid or protein can start leaking into other parts of your body. That’s why you might see swelling, have pain in your abdomen (where your liver is), or experience vision problems. The increase in blood pressure can also lead to headaches.
Certain conditions, like being older or having a history of high blood pressure, can put you at higher risk for preeclampsia. We think this might be due to how the placenta develops and possibly the blood vessels being more prone to damage.
The good news is that preeclampsia is usually temporary. Once the placenta is no longer in the picture—after you give birth—your body can start to heal, and your blood pressure should go back to normal. However, it’s important to let your doctor know if you’ve had preeclampsia, as it could slightly increase your risk for heart problems later in life.