Wellstar Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

Preeclampsia is a rare but serious complication of pregnancy. It’s also a warning sign for women to be vigilant about heart health throughout their lives.

Many assume the health risk posed by preeclampsia goes away after delivery, but having preeclampsia requires close follow-up care even beyond the postpartum period.

“If you have ever had preeclampsia, it becomes another risk factor for the development of vascular disease, even 20 to 30 years down the road,” said Dr. Mindy Gentry, a Wellstar cardiologist who specializes in heart disease during pregnancy.

The good news is that when you know, you can act.

What is preeclampsia and who is at risk?

Preeclampsia affects more than the heart. It can affect the placenta, blood vessels, kidneys and liver. It can also cause serious complications in the brain, lungs, blood system and eyes.

Women 35 and older who are pregnant have an increased risk of developing preeclampsia. So do women who are overweight or obese, and those who have diabetes or high blood pressure.

The chief warning signs for preeclampsia are sudden elevated blood pressure, significant leg swelling and shortness of breath.

Preeclampsia symptoms include

• Abdominal pain
• Blurred vision, or flashing spots or auras
• Burning sensation in the chest
• Sudden elevated blood pressure
• Confusion
• Headaches
• Leg swelling
• Heightened anxiety
• Nausea and vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Oversensitivity to light

Short- and long-term health risks of preeclampsia

Pregnancy puts a strain on the cardiovascular system, which includes the heart, blood vessels and blood. Preeclampsia signals stress in that system or an underlying susceptibility. If you’ve had preeclampsia, you have a higher risk of complications after birth.

"We tend to get this false sense of security once the pregnancy is over and the woman has delivered, that they're in the clear. But providers must continue to watch women for even up to one year after birth," Dr. Gentry said.

Women who have had preeclampsia have three to four times the risk of high blood pressure and two times the risk for heart disease and stroke later in life, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation. They also have an increased risk of developing diabetes.

How to prevent preeclampsia

Preventing preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications starts before becoming pregnant.

“We encourage everyone who is planning a pregnancy to schedule an appointment with their OB/GYN for pre-pregnancy counseling. That’s particularly important if you have any kind of cardiac history or risk factors of significant cardiac issues,” Dr. Gentry said.

Preeclampsia most often happens 20 weeks or later into pregnancy. If a patient’s blood pressure suddenly shoots up, providers may recommend delivering early.

“Our goal is to follow patients and prevent them from getting to that point by controlling blood pressure during pregnancy,” Dr. Gentry said. “Hopefully, we can also prevent complications down the road.”

Follow-up care when you’ve had preeclampsia

Follow-up checklist from Dr. Gentry if you’ve had preeclampsia

• In the first six to 12 weeks after birth: Visit your OB/GYN for follow-up visits. Make an appointment with your primary care provider. Continue to monitor your blood pressure. Be on the lookout for any warning signs—the same ones you learned about during pregnancy.
• Within the first year after birth: See your primary care team and get a cardiovascular baseline reading that includes blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, height and weight.
• Look into cardiac care: It may be appropriate to add a cardiologist to your healthcare team. Your provider may recommend seeing a cardiologist if you continue to have high blood pressure or have risk factors such as a family history of heart disease, obesity or diabetes.

If you’ve had preeclampsia, it’s important to commit to a healthy lifestyle with

• Exercise
• Good nutrition
• Limited or no alcohol use
• No tobacco use
• Regular preventive care visits
• Weight management

Wellstar resources for expectant mothers

Wellstar has specialists in obstetrics and cardiology to care for patients before, during and after pregnancy:

• If you’re pregnant or thinking about having a child, find a Wellstar OB/GYN near you.
• Read heart health facts every mom should know.
• Wellstar has a Cardio Obstetrics Program with specialists in maternal and postpartum care.

Few moments are more challenging for a parent than learning their newborn needs specialized medical care. In those early days, families need expert support, compassionate guidance and a calm space that helps them stay close to their baby.

That’s the vision behind the new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, part of the hospital’s Yellow Tower expansion. The next-generation unit combines advanced care, thoughtful design and a strong focus on family connection.

“The new NICU at Wellstar Kennestone provides more than advanced technology,” said Dr. Carrie Stinson, Wellstar chief of pediatrics. “It allows us to deliver the highest level of neonatal care close to home, so parents can focus on what matters most—being present for their babies during the most critical moments of their lives.”

Family-centered design

The new 49-bed NICU uses advanced monitoring technology to support babies who need intensive care, including those born early or facing medical challenges. As a high-volume, high-acuity Level III NICU, the care team is experienced in caring for newborns with a range of needs.

Beyond clinical care, the unit was designed with families in mind. Spacious rooms, natural light and a calming color palette create a more peaceful environment for babies and parents.

“This new design helps transform the NICU experience from something that can feel overwhelming into one that is more supportive, more personal and more centered around the family,” said Dr. Amanda M. Evans, Wellstar neonatal medical director and NICU medical director at Wellstar Kennestone.

One of the most meaningful features is the unit’s six couplet care rooms, where mothers and babies can remain together after delivery when medically appropriate.

“It allows the care team to support both patients together, creating stronger bonds and better outcomes—which is truly at the heart of what we are trying to achieve,” Dr. Evans said.

Personalized nutrition for the smallest patients

The NICU also includes an innovative milk lab—a centralized pharmacy that prepares fortified human milk, donor milk and prescribed formulas. The dedicated space helps ensure precise nutrition for newborns who need tailored feeding plans.

“One of the most important advances is the ability to analyze breast milk for its nutritional content,” Dr. Evans said. “Every mother’s milk is unique. With this technology, we can better understand what every baby is receiving and make individualized adjustments when needed.”

For families, the milk lab offers confidence in every feeding. It gives the care team advanced tools to deliver personalized nutrition with the highest standards of safety.

Expanding access to advanced neonatal care

As one of Georgia’s most trusted hospitals for women’s and children’s services, Wellstar Kennestone continues to invest in pediatric care. The new NICU expands access to specialized neonatal services across Cobb County and Metro Atlanta—so parents can find exceptional care without traveling far.

“Every baby in the NICU deserves the most advanced care from the very first breath,” said Varma Rameswar, vice president of pediatric operations and service line at Wellstar. “We’re redefining what’s possible in neonatal care by providing leading-edge support for every baby and every family.”

Learn more about neonatology services at Wellstar.

As summer approaches, the familiar hum of cicadas—noisy, winged insects common across Georgia—often fills the air. For 66-year-old Jeri Ann Herman of Smyrna, that buzzing sound once felt constant—even indoors and in the quiet moments of daily life.

What she was hearing wasn’t coming from outside.

Looking back, Jeri Ann said she likely began experiencing hearing loss around age 60. At first, the changes were subtle. She found herself asking others to speak up or repeat themselves, brushing off the difficulty as a normal part of aging.

“I developed hearing ‘crutches,’” she said. “Turning up the TV worked at home, but conversations in restaurants became really difficult. I’d only heard negative things about hearing aids, so I kept telling myself I didn’t want to deal with more frustration.”

Over time, conversations became harder to follow. Family gatherings, once full of laughter and connection, left her feeling increasingly disconnected. Often, she said, she would smile along without fully understanding what was being said.

Eventually, Jeri Ann sought medical help for what she described as a constant sound of “cicadas” in her ears. She was diagnosed with tinnitus, a condition that causes the perception of sound when no external noise is present.

Working with Wellstar Audiologist Dr. Brooke Watkins, Jeri Ann began exploring ways to manage both her hearing loss and the persistent buzzing.

“Jeri Ann actually has a specific program built into her devices that she can turn on when needed,” Dr. Watkins said. “It plays what we call a ‘masker’ to help distract her from the sounds she’s hearing, similar to a white noise machine you might use for sleep. We customized that setting for her in the office so it better counters the cicada-like buzzing and gives her relief throughout the day.”

With guidance from Watkins and Wellstar lead ear, nose and throat physician Dr. Timothy Ryan, Jeri Ann tried several options before finding the right fit. Today, she wears custom in-ear hearing aids designed specifically for her needs—and they’re so small, no one even notices them.

“Finding Dr. Watkins was a game-changer,” she said. “She truly believes everyone deserves to hear, and she took the time to find what worked for me. When one hearing aid didn’t fit and was uncomfortable, she had it completely redone.”

The results were remarkable. The constant internal noise faded, and everyday conversations became clearer again.

“Many patients don’t realize how much hearing loss and tinnitus are affecting their day-to-day lives until they experience the difference,” Dr. Ryan said. “When we treat both, it’s not just about reducing noise. It’s about restoring clarity, confidence and the ability to stay connected to the people and moments that matter most.”

Hearing loss is common, particularly among older adults. About 1 in 3 adults ages 65 to 74 have hearing loss, and nearly half of adults 75 and older are affected, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Tinnitus is closely linked, often occurring when tiny sensory cells in the inner ear are damaged, and the brain compensates by creating its own sound.

For Jeri Ann, addressing both conditions brought relief she hadn’t thought possible.

“Aging comes with challenges,” she said. “I got glasses when my vision changed, so hearing aids should have been the next step. But it didn’t happen until I was emotionally ready.”

Now, she is once again fully engaged in conversations with her husband, children and grandchildren, no longer sidelined by the sounds she couldn’t control.

Jeri Ann hopes sharing her story will encourage others to recognize the signs of hearing loss and seek help sooner.

“I didn’t realize how much I was missing,” she said. “Now I don’t want to miss a thing.”