HEADACHES IN WOMEN: TOXAEMIA OF PREGNANCY
During pregnancy, some women start to develop a syndrome call toxaemia of pregnancy. As yet, no one is completely sure why this occurs, but it is a very well-recognised problem. In its early form, there is puffiness of the ankles and the fingers, and weight gain, both of which are caused by water retention (oedema). Blood pressure rises slightly and there may be a little protein in the urine. Normally this settles with rest, but in its worst form (which is fortunately very rare) the patient gets a frontal headache, gross puffiness of her fingers and ankles, leaks protein into her urine, and her blood pressure continues rising. If this situation isn’t checked, in extreme circumstances she may experience flashing lights in the eyes, together with a headache over the forehead and then have a fit. This condition is called eclampsia. After an eclamptic fit, the foetus has a high chance of dying – so too has the mother.
Thankfully, full-blown eclampsia is a very rare event, largely due to good antenatal care. During routine anti-natal checks a woman’s blood pressure is measured, she’s weighed to make sure that she’s not suddenly put on too much weight (which usually means that she’s retaining water rather than that she’s eating too much) and her urine is tested to make sure that there is no protein present.
A small percentage of pregnant women do get the symptoms of early toxaemia – a little swelling of the fingers, a slight rise in blood pressure, or perhaps a little protein in her water, but the early stages are relatively benign. Pre-eclampic toxaemia (PET) like this responds well to rest. In most cases, the blood pressure falls, the excess water is lost, and the leakage of protein stops. In more severe-cases it make be necessary for the patient lo be admitted to hospital for strict bed rest, sometimes under quite heavy sedation.
Although rest usually makes the symptoms of toxaemia go away, it’s very often difficult to get a woman to rest in her own home. At least two hours lying in bed in the morning and two hours in the afternoon – may be all that is required to bring the blood pressure down. In early toxaemia, however, if the symptoms persist and the blood pressure continues to rise, then hospital admission is going to be necessary. In extreme cases it may be necessary to induce childbirth by medical means, to make sure that the baby is delivered as soon as possible; and in some cases an emergency Caesarian section is needed to save the baby’s life or simply to prevent the blood pressure going even higher.
Full-blown toxaemia is a potential medical disaster, and must be treated as an emergency. On the other hand, although many pregnant women experience a few of the early symptoms of pre-eclampsia very few progress to the much more malign full-blown toxic stage. It is only in full-blown toxaemia that the frontal headaches occur, but if you’re in the later stages of pregnancy and have developed any of the symptoms listed above, you should contact your doctor or midwife immediately
We still don’t know why toxaemia occurs. It may be related to exercise and certainly it’s helped by rest. Interestingly, its usually less common in subsequent pregnancies,
Finally, a small point needs to be made about blood pressure in pregnancy – the blood pressure rise caused by toxaemia is quite different from the blood pressure rise caused by ‘ordinary’ blood pressure. It is quite possible to have high blood pressure during pregnancy from ‘ordinary’ blood pressure without any problems: on the other hand a rise of blood pressure at this lime may indicate toxaemia.
Type of headache
The headache is severe, and across the forehead, accompanied by flashing lights in the eyes.
A tension headache produces a similar type of headache. Migraines can produce flashing lights in the eye, but the headache isn’t at the front, but over one half of the head. The tests your doctor does of your urine, blood pressure and weight will indicate whether or not it’s toxaemia.
Self-help
Make sure you get good ante-natal care, and try to rest as much as possible during the later stages of pregnancy, though this can be very difficult; and if your doctor is advising you to rest more because of a rise In blood pressure, then do please take his advice – it’s important.
Some doctors feel it is caused by a lack of high-quality proteins (meat, fish, eggs, etc.) and will suggest a dietary change. Do try to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Light exercise can also help prevent PET, but once you’re got PET, rest is essential.
Complementary treatment
Full-blown pre-eclamptic toxaemia, or full-blown eclampsia, must be treated by a doctor – and preferably in the hospital. However, there are some complementary measures that can be undertaken on a preventative basis.
Efforts to keep your blood pressure down should be made, and that includes watching your diet and taking measures to reduce stress. Avoid coffee, tea and alcohol, and in its place try soothing camomile teas, Dandelion root coffee is a mild diuretic, which may help control oedema.
Homoeopathy and acupuncture both offer therapies to deal with high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia, but the treatment will be tailored to your individual needs.
Oedema can be relieved by massage of the legs with geranium and rosemary essential oils. Lavender may relieve headaches, as can acupressure
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