Preeclampsia is a far too common pregnancy complication, and a leading cause of death for pregnant women. The World Health Organization reports over 70,000 maternal deaths annually and the CDC reports¹ over 500,000 fetal deaths globally each year from Preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that results in dangerously high blood pressure and a cascade of organ failure.
Symptoms include²:
Because the impacts of preeclampsia can be so severe, early diagnosis and management are critical. Early delivery is often required and close monitoring by doctors is paramount to the safety of the mother and baby. Because the only cure for preeclampsia is delivery, if the fetus is not developed enough early delivery places the fetus at risk. Without early delivery both the life of the pregnant woman and her baby are at risk.
There are several tests your doctor can order to screen for preeclampsia including checking for proteins like PAPP-A and PLGF in the first trimester. There are additional tests that measure biomarkers SFLT-1 and PLGF in the second trimester that can help assess a pregnant women’s risk for preeclampsia⁵.
These screening tests cannot predict with complete accuracy who will or will not develop preeclampsia, they are another means by which doctors can help assess the likelihood a patient may be at risk for developing this condition.
The exact cause of preeclampsia is not known but an issue with the development of the placenta is believed to be where preeclampsia begins.
The placenta is an organ developed during pregnancy and blood circulation issues may lead to the blood pressure concerns that make preeclampsia so dangerous.⁶
While every woman needs to be aware of the symptoms and risks of preeclampsia there are some risk markers that make some women more predisposed to developing preeclampsia. Women without these risk markers can still develop preeclampsia and women with these risk factors can have a completely normal pregnancy without ever developing preeclampsia.
Risk markers for Preeclampsia
Women with preeclampsia were found to have significantly lower levels of Glutathione as compared to a control group of pregnant women who did not have preeclampsia⁷.
Glutathione is the body’s natural antioxidant and oxidative damage plays an important role in the risk factors for preeclampsia. Optimal levels of Glutathione allow your body to fight oxidative stress and free radicals that damage the very cells of our bodies, including eggs and sperm.
Oxidative stress occurs when the formation of free radicals proliferates beyond what the body’s antioxidant defenses can handle. Free radicals speed up many diseases processes, including ones unique to women’s health:
Oxidative stress has also been linked to preeclampsia, and lowered glutathione levels are found in women with preeclampsia as far back as 1958⁸. The severity of preeclampsia seems to be related to the severity of glutathione deficiency.
Glutathione’s role in the body includes:
Because our digestive system readily breaks down Glutathione, oral supplementation has not been shown to be an effective way to supplement Glutathione.
If oral supplements are not effective, that leaves IV and topical applications. IV is not a suitable way to supplement at home, leaving topical applications for consideration.
Our skin isn’t just a protective barrier, it can also absorb chemicals and deliver them directly into the bloodstream. This is why some medications are designed to be applied topically, such as hormone creams, nicotine patches, and pain relief gels. These products work because the active ingredients are able to penetrate the outer layers of the skin and reach deeper tissues or systemic circulation. In this way, when formulated correctly, topical supplements use this same principle to deliver nutrients through the skin for targeted benefits.
Happy Stork’s Glutathione Antioxidant Cream is formulated for transdermal application and has been shown through blood tests to increase glutathione levels.
You can learn more about Happy Stork’s Glutathione Antioxidant Cream and purchase a bottle here. (Customers should always consult with their doctor).
