A. Discussion of disease/condition

1. Incidence

Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) is a multi-organ disease process that develops as a result of pregnancy and regresses in the postpartum period. It usually develops after 20 weeks of gestation in a woman who had normal blood pressure. It is defined as an elevation of systolic and diastolic pressures equal to or above 140/90 mm Hg. In clinical practice, the terms PIH and preeclampsia are used interchangeable, but in preeclampsia the woman also has protein in her urine indicating that there is renal involvement as well. The only know cure for preeclampsia is delivery of the fetus. It is a relatively common problem of pregnancy and affects about 8% of all pregnancies. (Murray, p680)

2. Risk factors

There are many factors that increase a woman's risk. Those include women who are having their first baby, those under 17 years old, women...