Symptoms of preeclampsia in pregnancyImage Credit source: Getty Images
World Preeclampsia Day 2026: Pregnancy is a very special period of every woman’s life. During this time, the woman is excited about her upcoming child, but is also worried about the changes taking place in her body. Many times, changes occurring in the body can sometimes be a sign of serious health problems. During pregnancy, women often ignore symptoms like swelling in hands and legs, constant headache, blurred vision or blurred vision, considering them normal. However, according to experts, these signs can point towards a serious condition like preeclampsia, which can prove dangerous for the health of both the mother and the child in the womb.
This is the reason why World Preeclampsia Day is celebrated every year on 22 May. Its objective is to make women aware of this disease. Even today very few women know about this disease. In such a situation, let us also tell you on this special occasion which symptoms can be signs of preeclampsia and how you have to take care of yourself in this.
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What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a serious condition that occurs during pregnancy, in which the blood pressure of a pregnant woman increases significantly and some organs of the body, especially the kidneys and liver, start getting affected. This problem usually appears after the 20th week of pregnancy. Its common symptoms are high blood pressure, headache, swelling in hands and feet, blurred vision or flashes in the eyes, etc.
Why can preeclampsia be dangerous?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 3 to 8 percent of pregnant women worldwide are suffering from preeclampsia. In which the symptoms of high blood pressure have been seen the most and this has also become the cause of death of pregnant women during childbirth.
Which signs should not be ignored even by mistake?
Dr. Nisha Mangal, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cocoon Hospital, Jaipur, says, If you are seeing some signs during pregnancy, then you should not ignore them at all. For example, if headache persists and does not get better even after taking medicine, there is swelling in the face or hands, pain in the upper part of the stomach, nausea, vomiting or difficulty in breathing, then these should not be ignored considering them as normal pregnancy symptoms. Rather, you should immediately contact your gynecologist. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), persistent headache, blurred vision, swelling of the face or hands, and pain in the upper abdomen can be major signs of preeclampsia.
What effect can it have on mother and child?
Preeclampsia is a condition which affects not only the mother but also the health of the child. If this problem is not detected on time, it can affect the mother’s kidneys, liver, brain, blood clotting process and placenta. At the same time, the risk of stunted growth in the child, birth with low weight and premature or emergency delivery may increase. In severe cases, this disease can turn into eclampsia, which can lead to seizures and can even be life-threatening.
Problem can occur even without symptoms
The most worrying thing is that in some women the symptoms of preeclampsia are not even visible. Therefore, experts advise to keep blood pressure monitoring and urine test done from time to time during pregnancy. Getting BP checked during pregnancy is not just a common procedure, but an important part of the safety of mother and child.
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