Preeclampsia

Disease Overview:

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy, in which one might have high blood pressure, high levels of protein in urine that indicate kidney damage (proteinuria), or other signs of organ damage. Preeclampsia usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure had previously been in the standard range. Early delivery of the baby is often recommended.

Cure:

Before delivery, preeclampsia treatment includes careful monitoring and medications to lower blood pressure and manage complications.

Signs and Symptoms:

  • High blood pressure with or without protein in the urine. Your provider will check these during your prenatal visit.
  • Changes in vision, like blurriness, flashing lights, seeing spots or being sensitive to light
  • Headache that doesn’t go away
  • Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting or dizziness
  • Pain in the upper right belly area or in the shoulder
  • Sudden weight gain (2 to 5 pounds in a week)
  • Swelling in the legs, hands or face
  • Trouble breathing

Neuro tube defects

Disease Overview:

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are birth defects (congenital conditions), so they develop in unborn babies in the womb. NTDs develop within the first month of pregnancy. As development progresses, the top of the neural tube becomes their brain, and the rest of the tube becomes their spinal cord. An NTD happens when this tube doesn’t close completely somewhere along its length.

Cause:

Healthcare providers and scientists don’t yet know the exact cause of neural tube defects (NTDs), but they believe it’s a complex combination of genetic, nutritional and environmental factors. In particular, low levels of folic acid in a person’s body before and during early pregnancy appear to play a part in this type of congenital condition.

Cure:

Taking Folic acid (or folate) in early pregnancy is important for the fetal development of the brain and spinal cord.


Erectile Dysfunction

Disease Overview:

Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex. If erectile dysfunction is an ongoing issue, it can cause stress, affect your self-confidence and contribute to relationship problems.

Cause:

ED can result from health problems, emotional issues, or from both. Some known risk factors are:

  • Being over age 50
  • Having cardiovascular disease
  • Stress and Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Using drugs or drinking too much alcohol
  • Being obese
  • Lack of exercise

Infertility

Disease Overview:

Infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant (conceive) after one year (or longer) of unprotected sex. Since fertility in women is known to decline steadily with age, some providers evaluate and treat women aged 35 years or older after 6 months of unprotected sex.

Cause:

  • Failure to Ovulate
  • Problems in the Menstrual Cycle
  • Structural Problems of the Reproductive System
  • Infections
  • Failure of an Egg to Mature Properly
  • Implantation Failure
  • Endometriosis
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Disease Overview:

Anemia occurs when you have a decreased level of hemoglobin in your red blood cells (RBCs). Hemoglobin is the protein in your RBCs that’s responsible for carrying oxygen to your tissues. Iron-deficiency occurs when your body doesn’t have enough iron, which your body needs to make hemoglobin. When there isn’t enough iron in your blood, the rest of your body can’t get the amount of oxygen it needs.

Cause:

  • Heavy menstruation
  • Poor diet
  • Certain intestinal diseases
  • Internal bleeding

Diagnosis:

A complete blood count (CBC) is usually the first test a doctor will recommend for diagnosis. A CBC measures the amount of cellular or cell-related components in the blood.

Signs and Symptoms:

  • general fatigue
  • weakness
  • pale skin
  • shortness of breath
  • dizziness
  • tingling or crawling feeling in legs
  • cold hands and feet
  • cold hands and feet

Cure:

Eating too little iron over an extended amount of time can cause a shortage in your body. An iron deficit person should consume iron rich foods such as meat, eggs, and green leafy vegetables. Iron is essential during times of rapid growth and development, pregnant women and young children may need even more iron-rich foods and supplements in their diet.