HEALTHWISE MAUI
Q: What are the symptoms of preeclampsia?
Dr. Tiffinie Mercado, Ob-Gyn, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii: Preeclampsia is a severe complication during pregnancy that can lead to dangerously elevated blood pressure. If left untreated, this condition may result in damage to organs and could give rise to critical complications endangering the health of both the pregnant parent and baby.
Preeclampsia often develops silently, with no noticeable symptoms in the early stages. For this reason, routine screening tests are given during pregnancy to detect early signs of a potential problem.
Red flags for preeclampsia during pregnancy include:
Hypertension—An increase in blood pressure, especially after the 20th week of pregnancy.
Proteinuria—Urine tests can show if there’s too much protein in your urine, a result of kidney damage.
Edema—Preeclampsia can cause sudden, unexplained swelling, especially in the hands and face.
Weight gain—If you see a sudden increase in your weight gain, it could be a sign of preeclampsia.
Severe symptoms should be taken seriously and discussed with your physician or midwife right away. These include severe or constant headaches, vision changes, new nausea or vomiting that’s different from your morning sickness, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or severe anxiety or feelings of dread.
The good news is that by keeping a close eye on their health and getting the right treatment, most people with preeclampsia can give birth safely and have healthy babies. Your physician or midwife will work with you to come up with a treatment plan that’s right for you and your baby. Treatment may involve delivering the baby early to minimize the risk of complications, prescribing medication to manage your blood pressure and other symptoms, and more frequent monitoring.
To reduce your risk of preeclampsia, make sure you attend all your prenatal checkups and complete any monitoring and screening tests your physician or midwife recommends.
Maui Memorial Medical Center provides comprehensive maternity services, and our staff is experienced in caring for pregnant patients with preeclampsia. Learn more about our maternity services and take a virtual tour at mauihealth.org/maternity.
Q: Is CPR difficult to learn?
Dr. Kimble Poon, Cardiologist, Hawaii Permanente Medical Group: Simple things in life are often the most extraordinary. CPR is one of the best examples.
CPR was complicated when I first learned it in elementary school (a long, long time ago). In the past ten years, however, the medical community has shifted away from rescue breaths to “hands-only CPR” or “compressions-only CPR.” This technique is precisely what it sounds like: pressing in the middle of the chest at 100-120 beats per minute. The easiest way to remember this pace is by thinking of a song with a specific beat. Many songs use this tempo, and a few examples include “Stayin’ Alive,” “Uptown Funk,” and every parent’s recurring nightmare, “Baby Shark.”
It is a paradox that something life-saving could be so easy. In 2019, after an Arizona man saved a woman’s life with CPR, first responders asked him where he learned it. To their surprise, he responded he never had formal training; instead, he had merely seen a CPR class on an episode of the hit comedy TV series, “The Office,” featuring Steve Carrell.
And while it seems scary, the reality is that you can’t hurt someone by doing CPR. The hardest part is having the awareness that something is wrong and having the courage to act. CPR is something everyone can do. Even children can learn it.
Some people worry about getting sued. In this situation, Good Samaritan laws (in most states, including Hawaii and federal law aboard airplanes) protect you if you respond in good faith.
For easy-to-follow CPR videos, including the episode of “The Office” mentioned here, visit mauihealth.org/cpr.
Physicians, providers and administrative staff who practice at Maui Health hospitals and clinics answer questions from the public in Healthwise Maui, which appears on Thursdays. Maui Health operates Maui Memorial Medical Center, Maui Memorial Medical Center Outpatient Clinic, Kula Hospital & Clinic and Lana‘i Community Hospital and accepts all patients. To submit a question, go to the website at mauihealth. org/healthwise.