PREECLAMPSIA: A Serious Complication of Pregnancy

   Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that causes excessive increase in high blood pressure, and high levels of protein in the urine. This may affect several organs of the body of a pregnant woman including the liver, kidney, and the brain. Preeclampsia usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure had previously been in the standard range.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS 

        Although in some women, there are no evident clinical manifestation other than increased blood pressure, the following are other signs and symptoms of preeclampsia:

• high blood pressure
• proteinuria
• thrombocytopenia or decreased platelets in blood
• increased liver enzymes, severe headache
• changes in vision or loss of vision
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• pain in the upper abdomen
• nausea and vomiting
• sudden weight gain 
• sudden swelling

RISK FACTORS

        Although the main cause of preeclampsia is still unknown, researchers suspect that it begins in the placenta where the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the baby do not seem to develop or work properly. Problems with how well blood circulates in the placenta may lead to the irregular regulation of blood pressure in the mother. In addition, the following are some risk factors that increase the risk of preeclampsia:

• preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy
• pregnant with twins or more
• chronic high blood pressure
• diabetes
• autoimmune disorders
• obesity
• family history of the disorder
• maternal age of more than 40 years old
• more than 10 years since previous pregnancy
• first pregnancy with partner

COMPLICATIONS

        If left untreated, Preeclampsia may have the following complications:

• Fetal growth restriction. Preeclampsia affects the arteries carrying blood to the placenta. If the placenta doesn't get enough blood, the baby may receive inadequate blood and oxygen and fewer nutrients. This can lead to slow growth known as fetal growth restriction

• Preterm birth. Preeclampsia may lead to an unplanned preterm birth — delivery before 37 weeks. Also, planned preterm birth is a primary treatment for preeclampsia. A baby born prematurely has increased risk of breathing and feeding difficulties, vision or hearing problems, developmental delays, and cerebral palsy. Treatments before preterm delivery may decrease some risk

• Placental abruption. Preeclampsia increases your risk of placental abruption. With this condition, the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery. Severe abruption can cause heavy bleeding, which can be life-threatening for both the mother and baby

• HELLP syndrome. HELLP stands for hemolysis (the destruction of red blood cells), elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count. This severe form of preeclampsia affects several organ systems. HELLP syndrome is life-threatening to the mother and baby, and it may cause lifelong health problems for the mother

• Eclampsia. Eclampsia is the onset of seizures or coma with signs or symptoms of preeclampsia. It is very difficult to predict whether a patient with preeclampsia will develop eclampsia. Eclampsia can happen without any previously observed signs or symptoms of preeclampsia

• Other organ damage. Preeclampsia may result in damage to the kidneys, liver, lung, heart, or eyes, and may cause a stroke or other brain injury. The amount of injury to other organs depends on how severe the preeclampsia is

• Cardiovascular disease. Having preeclampsia may increase your risk of future heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease. The risk is even greater if you've had preeclampsia more than once or you've had a preterm delivery.

PREVENTION

• Medication - The best clinical evidence for prevention of preeclampsia is the use of low-dose aspirin. Primary care provider may recommend taking an 81-milligram aspirin tablet daily after 12 weeks of pregnancy if a woman have one high-risk factor for preeclampsia or more than one moderate-risk factor. It's important that you talk with your provider before taking any medications, vitamins or supplements to make sure it's safe for you.

• Lifestyle and healthy choices - Before one becomes pregnant, especially if she had preeclampsia before, it's a good idea to be as healthy as she can be hence, it is important to talk to a health care provider about managing any conditions that increase the risk of preeclampsia.

NURSING INTERVENTION 

• Monitor patient's blood pressure
• Health Teaching on stress management
• Monitor weight of patient
• Health teaching on proper nutrition
• Monitor fetal heart rate
• Regular OB/GYNE follow-up check ups and prenatal care
• Administer medications as prescribed by physician
• Health teaching on limited physical activities
• Assess for edema and other health deviations related to illness

DIAGNOSTICS

• Urine Analysis - necessary to detect presence of proteinuria. (+2) or a result of ≥0.3 g protein in a 24-hour urine specimen
• Complete Blood Count Test - measures levels of a protein called placental growth factor (PIGF). If PIGF levels are high, it's highly likely that the patient do not have pre-eclampsia. If PIGF levels are low, it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia, but further tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis.
• Routine Physical Examinations - assess for signs of sudden edema and sudden weight gain
• Ultrasound Cardiotocograph (CTG)

TREATMENT

• Anti-convulsant medications - to prevent seizures
• Anti-hypertensive medications - to stabilize and lower blood pressure
• Cortecosteroids - to treat and prevent inflammations

UPDATES

        Several studies have shown a greater risk of preeclampsia among Black women compared with other women. There's also some evidence of an increased risk among indigenous women in North America.

        A growing body of evidence suggests that these differences in risk may not necessarily be based on biology. A greater risk may be related to inequities in access to prenatal care and health care in general, as well as social inequities and chronic stressors that affect health and well-being. Lower income also is associated with a greater risk of preeclampsia likely because of access to health care and social factors affecting health.

        In the Philippines, Preeclampsia and Eclampsia were the cause of up to 30% of maternal deaths in 2017 according to the Philippine Department of Health.

REFERENCES:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preeclampsia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355745

Fourth Grading - Reflection

          We all encounter the same thing every fourth quarter of the school year; we are already tired of studying, we get excited to end the school year, we want vacation to come closer. But the most unexpected things happen at the most unexpected moments.

 

          During the fourth grading period, you are already tired and lost your interest in your studies. It is already the last quarter of the school year, last time to prove something, to prove yourself that you are deserving to be included in the honor role. The pressure is high so you had to let the spirit of diligence enter your body and possess you. In your ICT class, your lesson is all about Photoshop. Again. Photoshop was your lesson back when you were in grade 8 and now that you are in grade 10 you already forgot what you have learned. But I taught myself to look for the beauty in it. To see everything with a silver lining. So I tried so hard to recall all my past lessons. And now I am really happy that I have my knowledge back. I was so joyful editing my requirement but suddenly a window appeared on my screen. I asked my seatmate about it. She said, our computer hanged and all our activities are not saved. I thought my world is going to end. That was the realest challenge. I was already near to finishing it. But I did not lose hope. I learned to became patient and understand that not every time is your climax. Sometimes you have to fall down in order to see the way to the end of your adventure.

          Do not ever give up on your dreams because they are a picture of a possibility and you should have a strong heart and a prepared mind to turn that into reality. Not everything will come easy. Sometimes you have to really work hard to achieve it. But always keep your feet on the ground and your eyes on the Lord. Because at the end of the day, only He can save you.

My 117 Year Old School

          This year, we had our Foundation Day or more known as High School Day last March 1 and 2. This is in celebration of the school's founding anniversary. Remembering everything that our school had went through, our school, Ilocos Sur National High School is now sanding tall, aiming high, soaring, and flying.

           Weeks before the said event, everyone was busy preparing. The students, teachers, everyone. Evryone was excited about what was going to happen. You can see batallions of students here and there, getting ready for their field demonstration. You can see students in high cut shoes, wearing fatigue uniforms, preparing for their drills. You can also see teachers getting frustrated, you can see the school principal talking to student who are not wearing their ID and many more. I am telling you, the school was completely busy. Saturday night, as I was scrolling through my twitter account, I saw a thread by a teacher, also from my school. The thread was all about Foundation Day. I read that and it changed all of my thoughts about High School Day. Days have passed, and the day that everyone was waiting for has finally arrived and I am sure, students just came for compliance, not to have fun. As expected, same practices and routines back when I was in Grade 7 was still observed. I was not surprised at all because I had a new idea, I was influenced by a better and wider perception of what that day was supposed to be. And I thought, there should be unity, we are in the same school, and we should move as one. If all voices were heard, then the game should have been twisted into a more fun and exciting one. But nonetheless, since I am an officer of our school's CAT-1 Unit, I had a part on the Arrival of Honors, and that made me satisfied because many of our senior officers did not have the same experience that we had. And overall, to be honest, that Foundation Day was not the best but definitely not the worst.

           I learned a lot from what happened. All that I can say is that, we should never be afraid to voice out our concerns specially if we know that it is for the betterment of the body. I really hope that next Foundation Day, everything will be really amazing. I came, I struggled, but in the end, I conquered.

Dreams: Better Future, Better Life

          "Dream is a picture of a possibility and you should have a strong heart and a prepared kind to turn that into reality" Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015 once said. We dream of something, whether it is short term or a long term, we work so hard to achieve it. We burn our brows, all day and all night, for us to deserve it.

If happiness is the key to success then dreams are building blocks into a world that only you can create. Yes! With your creative mind, you are the one, you have the choice if you are going to pursue your dreams, if you want to be successful or not. You hold your future. The change must start with yourself. As a poem goes "You are the master of your fate, you are the captain of your soul". You will go through many ups and downs. You will encounter a lot of problems along the way. These problems let you become prepared for your future. They are not useless. Infact, they are your ladders inorder for you to reach your dreams. These problems are not barricades. They are stop overs for you to recharge, to regain yourself after a tiring journey, for you to learn, and get you ready on your next destination. There is nothing to be worried about. Always seek for God's help and guidance because He did not gave you those challenges if He knows that you can not do it. It is there for a reason. So in everything that you do, do your very best, and God will do the rest.

As they say, after every storm, there will always be a rainbow. Your hardships will pay off soon. Just lurn how to survive that storm. You have many dreams right? But dreams are just for the ones who are sleeping. So turn your dreams into goals. If you have yor dreams in life, wake up! You have your goals.

CHANGE; BEGINS WITH ME

          In my life, I have been exposed to a challenge that is so called "change". Change is inevitable. It comes in many different ways and is dealt with many different ways. I have come to the awareness that can be the deepest in all things. There are many issues in our community that we are facing today. And one of these issues is Climate Change.

          Climate change is the periodic modification of Earth's climate brought about as a result of changes in the atmosphere as well as interactions between the atmosphere and various other geologic, chemical, biological, and geographic factors within the Earth system. This is also due to the fast growing technologies and due to the negligence of the human creation. Since we are already in a modern world, new invented ways and techniques that are invented and introduced to make the lives of the people more convenient. But without thinking the effects of these in our environment. Our planet is the only one who can support life. It is the only one that we have. Because of the irresponsible and illegal acts of human beings, it is already being destroyed. There are pollutions in the land, in the bodies of water, in the air, everywhere. Improper garbage disposal is practiced as well as lack of conservation on the natural resources. Over years, yes we have improved but over years, yes, we destroyed our planet.

           If we only know how to conserve what we have, then we can giv atleast something left for the next generation. If we only are responsible of what we are doing, then our problems would be minimized. If we only are educated then we know how to deal with such. If we do our best then our micro effort will have macro effects in our environment. And therfore we can have a better planet to live in, and the best life to live.

Reference:

            https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Changes-in-Life-P3RD5ZYTC

NEW YEAR; NEW ME

         We anticipate the coming of a new year. It is considered to be the most important and wonderful holiday, since that it is the beginning of a new chapter of our life, a time for people to leave their happiness in the past and get their fortune for the new year. 

         Since it is a new year, we are hoping for a better life. That is why we make new year resolutions to change our bad habits in the past. It is one of the hyped modern tradition. People make promises to themselves to do a certain thing on the new year's eve. They decide to complete, follow the tasks for the entire year. It is a very noble idea that people pledge something to themselves so that some if not all of their problems will be solved. But in reality, New Year's Resolution is becoming a joke. On New Year's eve itself, people have fun, eat, and drink too. Sometimes, a week or two after New Year's eve, people tend to forget their promises already. Some even break it the next day.

          The real essence of New Year is not about those resolutions. If you are serious enough to change something about yourself, you can do it in a normal day. You do not need to wait for a new year for that. It is just an excuse. If you do not have the willpower to do such, you are just kidding yourself. As they say, "Promises are meant to be broken". Like the New Year's day, everyday brings new opportunities to start something new, a chance to starts over, a gateway to escape from traps. Everyday is also special, meaningful, and significant. For as you are loving and you have a strong faith in God and you have Him in your heart, it is already enough. And that is the real eaassence of New Year.


Reference:
          https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/1

KANNAWIDAN: Sangsangkamaysa a Rambakan

          Kannawidan is a festival celebrated in Ilocos Sur during the last week of January until the second or third week of February. It is a three-week long celebration which commemorates the separation of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. It is like an Independence Day for the two provinces.

    During the celebration, there are many activities that are conducted by the government of the provincial such as Street Dancing Competitions, Search for saniata ti Ylocos and Saniata ti Agtutubo for 2019, Muscle Showdown, LGBT Night, Balikbayan Night, and many more. They invite local artists here in the Philippines to entertain the crowd. They also built a booth where you can see and buy the OTOP or One Town One Product of every municipality in the province. There is also a bonsai exhibit where you can see the beautiful bonsai works of Ilocano bonsai makers. There is also an Art Gallery where works of Ilocano Artist are exhibited. Many visitors and balikbayans come to  celebrate with the Ilocanos this wonderful and historical festival.

      For me, I think, it is really important to have a celebration like this because it represents the progress that the province achieve over the pass 201 years of independence. It is also avenue where the young generation could learn and know about the rich culture and traditions that are existing inside the province. It is also a thanks giving celebration to the heroes who fought for the rights of the Ilocanos as well as all the Filipinos. It is important to celebrate this with unity and pride. SURE! ILOCOS SUR!!!!!!