Sprinter Tori Bowie’s Eclampsia Death 2023
Many women look back on their pregnancies as one of the most memorable times in their lives, despite the fact that it may be a physically challenging and emotionally trying time. But what if this blissful time suddenly becomes a nightmare and takes a turn for the tragic?
Tori Bowie, an Olympic medalist and well-known sprinter, went suddenly on May 2, and this was the tragic truth that she faced in her final days. According to the findings of the autopsy, Tori, who was eight months pregnant at the time of her death, had developed eclampsia.
It was also said that the baby she was carrying at the time of her passing was a stillborn at the time of her passing.
Tori had an incredible amount of success in the Olympics in 2016, winning three medals in total: a gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay, a silver medal in the 100-meter race, and a bronze medal in the 200-meter race.
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine Dr. Sarah W. Prager stated that “eclampsia, which follows severe preeclampsia, could happen to anyone, but Black women are more at risk.”
Eclampsia: what exactly is it?
When a woman is pregnant and has high blood pressure, a medical condition known as eclampsia can occur, which can cause her to have seizures.
According to Prager, “Black pregnant people have higher rates of most pregnancy complications, most of which can be attributed to racism baked into our medical system, and if not all of them, most of them.”
Eclampsia can present itself with a variety of symptoms, including increased blood pressure, headaches, changes in vision, pain in the liver, a rapid rise in edema, or vomiting.
How may the risk of eclampsia be reduced?
To treat eclampsia, clinicians recommend low dosage aspirin.
“If people are at a high risk for preeclampsia at baseline (history of preeclampsia, chronic [hypertension], diabetes, older age, etc.), then using baby aspirin throughout the pregnancy can help,” Prager added.
“In addition to looking at baseline liver and kidney health to have a comparator for later in pregnancy.”