Q25. What is ‘pre-eclampsia?’
A25 . This is a potentially fatal condition in pregnant women which is caused by high blood pressure and protein in their urine. This along with other associated conditions can be harmful to both the mother and baby.
Severe cases of pre-eclampsia cause complications in the mother such as a stroke or kidney failure. But it can also be equally harmful to the unborn baby and cause birth defects, premature birth or stillbirth.
This is discussed in more detail in our pre-eclampsia sub-section within the women and high blood pressure section.
FAQS Index : Guide to High Blood Pressure
- What is blood pressure?
- Why is it so important?
- What is normal blood pressure?
- What is high blood pressure?
- What is low blood pressure?
- What causes high blood pressure?
- Can anyone get high blood pressure?
- How do I know if I have got high blood pressure?
- Why do older people get high blood pressure?
- Can kids get high blood pressure?
- Can teenagers develop high blood pressure?
- What are the signs of high blood pressure?
- High blood pressure runs in my family: am I likely to develop it?
- Why does too much salt cause high blood pressure?
- Why is high blood pressure such a problem?
- What is the link between high blood pressure and diabetes?
Blood pressure
High blood pressure
- How often should I have my blood pressure checked?
- What is the ‘white coat effect?’
- Is there more than one test for high blood pressure?
- What is home blood pressure monitoring?
- What is 24 hour ambulatory monitoring?
Diagnosing high blood pressure
- Can women get high blood pressure?
- Does taking ‘the pill’ cause high blood pressure?
- Does being pregnant increase my chance of high blood pressure?
- What is ‘pre-eclampsia?’
- Does HRT cause high blood pressure?
Women and high blood pressure
- How do you treat high blood pressure?
- What lifestyle changes will I have to make?
- What types of blood pressure medication are there?
- Why do some blood pressure medications work better for different ethnicities?
- Can I prevent high blood pressure?
Treatment for high blood pressure
High Blood Pressure
- High Blood Pressure
- Blood pressure
- About blood pressure
- Blood pressure readings
- Low blood pressure
- High blood pressure
- What is high blood pressure?
- Symptoms of high blood pressure
- Causes of high blood pressure
- Types of high blood pressure
- High blood pressure myths
- Health risks of high blood pressure
- Aneurysm
- Arteriosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis
- Bone loss
- Coronary heart disease
- Diabetes
- Enlarged heart
- Erectile dysfunction
- Heart failure
- Kidney failure
- Kidney scarring
- Metabolic syndrome
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Retinopathy
- Sleep apnoea
- Stroke
- Swollen ankles
- Transient ischaemic attack
- Vascular dementia
- Diagnosing high blood pressure
- Blood pressure check
- GP observation
- Home blood pressure monitoring
- Choosing a blood pressure monitor
- Using a home blood pressure monitor
- Medical tests
- Blood test
- Urine test
- Electrocardiogram
- Echocardiogram
- Eye test
- 24 hour ambulatory monitoring
- Women and high blood pressure
- Oral contraception
- Pregnancy
- Pre-eclampsia
- Gestational hypertension
- Menopause
- Children and high blood pressure
- Treating high blood pressure
- Lifestyle changes
- High blood pressure medication
- Natural remedies
- Preventing high blood pressure
- High Blood Pressure FAQs
- Glossary