Toxemia Research Paper
Toxemia: A Systemic Effect on Pregnancy
Toxemia is a medical term that is being used less and less today. Preeclampsia is now the preferred term used by medical professions, to classify a group of symptoms that can occur during pregnancy and postpartum. The severity of the disorder is often misunderstood. In the next few pages, preeclampsia; also known as toxemia, will be discussed and explained in its entirety. The focus will be on the pathophysiology, nursing management, and community resources for those dealing with this disorder. There will also be three articles discussed and summarized. They are as follows; A Historical Overview of Preeclampsia by Mandy J. Bell, The New Hypertensive Guidelines for Pregnancy by Nicole Franzen Pfaff, CNM, …show more content…
It is considered the disease of first pregnancies (III, 2004). Most hear preeclampsia and think of elevated blood pressure during pregnancy. This is a major symptom of preeclampsia, but research and more knowledge of this disorder is showing that preeclampsia is affecting many parts of the body and causing a systemic shift in pregnant women. There are many theories on the pathophysiology behind this complex syndrome, but the true cause still seems to be unknown. Research has shown that preeclampsia is the number one cause of maternal mortality, so it is of great importance that research for the primary cause of this syndrome continues (SeonAe Yeo, …show more content…
Mild and severe preeclampsia is used to classify which treatment plan to follow. Mild preeclampsia includes new onset proteinuria and high blood pressure. A blood pressure of 140 systolic over 90 diastole (two times, 6 hours apart), would indicate mild preeclampsia. During prenatal appointments, women are asked to give a urine sample each visit. If the urine tests positive for protein the best way to check is through a 24-hour urine test. When the 24-hour sample shows more than 300 mg of protein; it is considered abnormal, and also a preeclampsia indication (Michele Davidson, 2011). Edema will usually be present in many patients, but is no longer considered a diagnostic symptom (Nicole Franzen Pfaff,
Toxemia is a medical term that is being used less and less today. Preeclampsia is now the preferred term used by medical professions, to classify a group of symptoms that can occur during pregnancy and postpartum. The severity of the disorder is often misunderstood. In the next few pages, preeclampsia; also known as toxemia, will be discussed and explained in its entirety. The focus will be on the pathophysiology, nursing management, and community resources for those dealing with this disorder. There will also be three articles discussed and summarized. They are as follows; A Historical Overview of Preeclampsia by Mandy J. Bell, The New Hypertensive Guidelines for Pregnancy by Nicole Franzen Pfaff, CNM, …show more content…
It is considered the disease of first pregnancies (III, 2004). Most hear preeclampsia and think of elevated blood pressure during pregnancy. This is a major symptom of preeclampsia, but research and more knowledge of this disorder is showing that preeclampsia is affecting many parts of the body and causing a systemic shift in pregnant women. There are many theories on the pathophysiology behind this complex syndrome, but the true cause still seems to be unknown. Research has shown that preeclampsia is the number one cause of maternal mortality, so it is of great importance that research for the primary cause of this syndrome continues (SeonAe Yeo, …show more content…
Mild and severe preeclampsia is used to classify which treatment plan to follow. Mild preeclampsia includes new onset proteinuria and high blood pressure. A blood pressure of 140 systolic over 90 diastole (two times, 6 hours apart), would indicate mild preeclampsia. During prenatal appointments, women are asked to give a urine sample each visit. If the urine tests positive for protein the best way to check is through a 24-hour urine test. When the 24-hour sample shows more than 300 mg of protein; it is considered abnormal, and also a preeclampsia indication (Michele Davidson, 2011). Edema will usually be present in many patients, but is no longer considered a diagnostic symptom (Nicole Franzen Pfaff,