An article from NPR on March 28, 2023 entitled The simple intervention that may keep Black moms healthier discusses how useful a blood pressure monitor that communicates with physicians from home can be for pregnant women. The article states “Blood pressure is just one way to measure a person’s health, but during pregnancy and soon after, it’s a critical metric. Unchecked, high blood pressure can contribute to serious complications for the pregnant woman and baby, and increase the risk of death.”
While all pregnant women can benefit, the article mentions that “Studies show that Black people are more than twice as likely as white people to experience severe pregnancy-related complications, and nearly three times as likely to have a pregnancy-related death.”
The article states:
“Many serious problems stem from high blood pressure, says Dr. Tina Yarrington, director of maternal-fetal medicine at BMC.
“It’s the root cause for many, many maternal health inequities,” she says. “People who are marginalized by structural racism, people who are Black, African American, Latina, Hispanic, suffer higher levels of hypertension and higher levels of complications when that hypertension strikes.”
This technology can have significant outcomes. “Each time a patient takes a reading at home, their blood pressure cuff sends the numbers straight to their electronic health record. The cuffs don’t need an internet connection; they use the signal of nearby cell towers.”
Armed with knowledge more quickly, physicians and pregnant mothers can take action faster to support the health of the mother and baby.
HEALTH CONVERSATIONS: When Aware We Care 