A 28-year old woman arrived to the ER wheezing and short of breath.
She had asthma and came in requesting a refill of her inhaler.
But when I examined her, I found out that something else much more serious was going on.
Getty / Jose Luis Pelaez Inc
The patients blood pressure was very high.
Her legs and arms were swollen.
Her lungs were filled with fluid.
She told me that she had given birth a month before.
During her pregnancy, she started having wheezing and trouble breathing, which she attributed to her asthma.
Actually, she had untreated high blood pressure that progressed and worsened to life-threatening heart failure.
This scenario was tragically typical.
About 700 women in the U.S. die every year from complications of pregnancy,according to the CDC.
And more than 50,000 women facesevere health consequences in pregnancy.
Arecent study from the CDCfound that three-in-five pregnancy-related deaths can be prevented, compounding the tragedy.
In medicine, we refer to pregnancy as a physiological stress test.
The postpartum period is another time of incredible vulnerability.
In recent months, there has been increased attention to maternal deaths during childbirth.
Approximately two-thirds of maternal deaths occur before or even months after delivery,according to the CDC.
These deaths arelargely attributedto undertreated chronic illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and mental illness.
The onus must be on the health care system to make necessary changes.
But we cant wait for systemic change to occur if we need medical care now.
Women are often caregivers for our loved ones, but we must care for ourselves to care for others.
The best time to keep yourself healthy is before you get sick.
You should also get tested regularly for STIs.
double-check that you are up-to-date with preventive testing such as Pap tests and breast screenings.
Even if youre not pregnant, diagnosing and treating medical conditions now can prevent complications during a future pregnancy.
Experts estimate that without access to contraceptives, many more mothers would die globally from pregnancy-related complications.
Birth control can also be beneficial for many patients in ways that dont directly relate with becoming pregnant.
It can help with symptoms of other conditions, like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis.
Remember that your mental health is just as important as your physical health.
Tell your doctor if you have feelings of depression, anxiety, and trouble coping.
For urgent concerns, go to the ER to get care.
The patient whom I mentioned earlier was in the Intensive Care Unit for a week.
