Wegovy is linked to a reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death, according to the results of a new clinical trial. The findings from Novo Nordisk are the first to show that a diabetes drug commonly used off-label for weight loss can also provide protective benefits beyond weight reduction. Wegovy’s maker released limited details of their findings earlier this month, including that the drug reduced the overall risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths by 20 percent. It did not break out the effects of the drug on each individual outcome and did not detail how much weight patients lost or provide any description of the side effects that were experienced. Novo Nordisk said the drug appeared to be “safe and well-tolerated,” which is in line with what has been seen and reported in previous clinical trials. The data has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal or reviewed by any outside scientists. The company said it would present its full trial results later this year. “I would bet that when the [full] study comes out, we will see decreases in risk factors including blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol,” Ronald Freudenberger, MD, Physician in Chief at Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute, who was not involved with the trial, told Health. “It will be important for it to go through the peer review process so we can see the details,” he said. “The initial announcement, however, is logical and makes sense.” Getty Images / imyskin Wegovy is currently FDA-approved for chronic weight management in the United States. The company plans to ask the Food and Drug Administration to add cardiovascular benefits to Wegovy’s drug prescription label later this year. “Weight management, even without the use of medications, is important as weight gain is directly tied to several cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes,” Salim S. Virani, MD, PhD, a cardiologist at The Texas Heart Institute who was not involved with the trial, told Health. “Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, so being able to control a direct contributor to cardiovascular risk factors can go a long way to slow the progression of these mortality numbers,” he said. The study results add to encouraging research that has found weight loss drugs to help reduce cardiovascular risks. Ozempic, which uses the same ingredient, semaglutide, as Wegovy, had a similar clinical trial conducted that saw a 26% reduction in cardiovascular events. But unlike the new Wegovy clinical trial, that study was only done with participants who had diabetes. The risk factors that contribute to poor cardiovascular health are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, family history, and smoking. While you can’t change family history, you can reverse high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes with weight loss, Freudenberger explained. “Weight loss has a direct, profound effect on decreasing the risk factors for cardiovascular events and cardiovascular disease, so it makes lots of sense that a drug that reverses the risk factors will decrease cardiovascular events,” he said. “It’s directly reversing the contributors to bad cardiovascular health.” Maintaining a healthy weight, with or without medication has also been shown to cause a general sense of well-being, more energy, reduction in stress levels, better sleep, improved immunity, better mental health, balanced hormones, and an overall enhancement in the quality of social life. A potential side effect of the clinical trial is that it could help improve insurance coverage, as the findings undermine the argument that Wegovy is merely a vanity drug. Wegovy currently costs over $1,300 a month before insurance, making it out of reach for many Americans whose insurance providers do not deem the drug medically necessary. Medicare does not cover weight loss medications—some employer insurance plans have refused to pay for them, arguing that the drugs are not essential medical remedies. This new trial could prompt more insurers to pay for the drug, at least for patients who, like the trial participants, already had evidence of pre-existing heart disease. “This outcome study strengthens the case for the use of semaglutide in patients who are overweight and obese,” said Virani. “We hope that this will help improve coverage for this medication.” As more information from the clinical trial is released, its findings will hopefully allow researchers to study the relationship between cardiovascular events and weight loss, potentially providing more answers to how drugs like Wegovy can improve heart health. Virani points out that patients considering taking Wegovy strictly for heart health should discuss their options with their treating clinicians. Experts agree that this trial could change the outlook and narrative around obesity that has long been framed as the responsibility of the individual patient, and the result of their own personal choices. “This study is indeed a landmark study,” said Freudenberger. “It shows that this class of drugs, used specifically for weight loss, decreases cardiovascular mortality, which makes physiologic sense. This makes a lot of sense.”
Day: July 3, 2024
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 28 at the Walnut Community Bible Church, located at 125 Jackson St. The American Red Cross has seen a deficit of around 25,000 blood donations in the first two months of the summer, which can make it hard to keep hospitals stocked with lifesaving blood products. Currently, the Red Cross especially needs type O negative, type O positive, type B negative and type A negative blood donors, as well as platelet donors. To schedule an appointment to give, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767. All who donated in throughout the month of August will receive a $10 e-gift card to a movie merchant of their choice.
Authorities are investigating the death of a New Yorker in connection to the flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus linked to saltwater and raw shellfish exposures. The case of vibriosis, a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection that can cause skin breakdown and ulcers, was uncovered in a recently deceased Suffolk County resident, officials said. Two other fatal cases of vibriosis have also been identified in Connecticut recently in connection to exposure to salt or brackish water along Long Island Sound. Health officials also reminded medical providers to consider vibriosis when diagnosing wound infections or sepsis of unknown origins. What is flesh-eating bacterial infection vibriosis? Vibriosis is caused by several species of bacteria, including the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, which occurs naturally in saltwater coastal environments, officials said. The bacteria can be found in higher concentrations from May to October when the weather is warmer. Infection with vibriosis can cause a range of symptoms when ingested, including diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, fever and chills. Exposure to the bacteria can also result in ear infections and cause sepsis and life-threatening wound infections. The death in Suffolk County is still being investigated to determine if the bacteria was encountered in New York waters or elsewhere, officials said. Is COVID back?COVID summer surge hits NY. How bad is it? How can you avoid flesh-eating bacteria in NY? Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald recommended New Yorkers with any type of wounds — such as a cut or scrape, a recent piercing or tattoo — to avoid swimming in warm seawater to reduce risks of exposure to the deadly bacteria. While anyone can get vibriosis, those with liver disease, cancer or a weakened immune system or people taking medicine to decrease stomach acid levels may be more likely to get an infection or develop complications when infected, health officials noted. Those with compromised immune systems should avoid eating raw or undercooked shellfish, such as oysters, which can carry the bacteria, officials added. Connecticut health officials noted this bacterial infection “is an extremely rare illness.” Five cases were reported in 2020 in Connecticut, and none in 2021 and 2022. About one in five people with this type of infection die, they added. For further details about the bacteria, visit the health department website, health.ny.gov.
Those planning to attend the Lorain County Fair, not only will enjoy animal exhibits and funnel cake — they can save someone’s life by donating blood, according to a news release. Nonprofit blood services provider Vitalant is experiencing a critical summer blood shortage and is urging all eligible donors to give blood to help area patients like 6-year-old Logan Casper from Wellington, who was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia, the release said. Logan is undergoing chemotherapy, and has received multiple blood and platelet transfusions which would not have been possible without generous blood donors, according to the release. “You never think it is going to happen to you then boom — in a blink of an eye your world is turned upside down,” said his mom, Nicole, in the release. “As a phlebotomist, I knew blood donation was important. “But until Logan was diagnosed with leukemia, I just didn’t realize how important it is for people to roll up their sleeve and give. It is scary to think about blood not being available for my child.” The Vitalant Bloodmobile will be set up from Aug. 20-27 near Gate 1 at the Lorain County Fairgrounds, 23000 Fairgrounds Road in Wellington. Donors should bring an identification card such as a driver’s license, the release said. To sign up, visit vitalant.org/LCFair. As a special thank you, those who come to donate at the Lorain County Fair will receive a limited edition “GOAT” T-shirt, the release said. In addition, donors will be automatically entered to win one of five $5,000 prepaid gift cards in the Back-2-School Shopping Spree Giveaway, according to the release. Donors who are opted in to the donor recognition program also will receive enough points to redeem for a $10 gift card, the release said. Learn more and make an appointment to give at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Donors who meet all eligibility requirements can be as young as 16 with parental consent, according to the release. Vitalant is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies health care organizations, providing hospitals and patients across the U.S. a safe blood supply, specialized laboratory services, transfusion medicine expertise and world-renowned research, the release said. Individuals generously donating blood, volunteering and giving financially are essential to the nonprofit’s lifesaving mission, the release said. Learn more at vitalant.org.
Irvine, Calif., Aug. 14, 2023 — A projected 93 million U.S. adults who are overweight and obese may be suitable for the 2.4 mg dosage of semaglutide, a weight loss medication known under the brand name Wegovy, a University of California, Irvine study has found. The researchers projected this based on the known weight loss effects (15 percent of average weight loss) of this therapy. Its use could result in 43 million fewer people with obesity, and prevent up to 1.5 million heart attacks, strokes and other adverse cardiovascular events over 10 years. The study, “US Population Eligibility and Estimated Impact of Semaglutide Treatment on Obesity Prevalence and Cardiovascular Disease Events,” was published in the journal Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy. It was led by Nathan D. Wong, PhD, professor and director of the Heart Disease Prevention Program in the Division of Cardiology at the UCI School of Medicine. Wong also recently presented his team’s findings at the American College of Cardiology scientific sessions in March 2023. The analysis is based on results from the STEP 1 trial, published in 2021 in the New England Journal of Medicine, which showed the 2.4 mg dosage of semaglutide approved by the FDA for the treatment of obesity reduced body weight by an average of 14.9 percent along with reductions in several cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure and lipids. The study projected 93 million U.S. adults (based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data) who are overweight or obese would fit STEP 1 eligibility criteria and that treatment with the drug would result in 43 million fewer persons with obesity. Wong and colleagues applied body mass index and other risk factor changes to cardiovascular disease risk scores among an estimated 83 million persons without pre-existing cardiovascular disease, estimating a reduction in 10-year cardiovascular disease risk of 1.8 percent from 10.15 percent to 8.34 percent (or a relative risk reduction of 18 percent), projecting up to 1.5 million cardiovascular events could be potentially prevented in 10 years. The analysis did not estimate the additional cardiovascular events that might be prevented from treatment among the approximately 10 million estimated eligible persons with cardiovascular disease. The projected 18 percent reduction in cardiovascular events in persons who are overweight or are obese but without cardiovascular disease compares favorably to the recently announced top line results of the SELECT trial, which studied Wegovy in persons with cardiovascular disease and showed an actual 20 percent reduction in future cardiovascular events. “It is one of the biggest advances in the obesity and cardiovascular medicine world,” said Wong. “We now have a weight control therapy that also significantly reduces cardiovascular events beyond the diabetes population where it was originally studied. It should be considered for patients who are obese or overweight with other risk factors where cardiovascular disease is their leading cause of disability and death.” Since drugs in this class have side effects, it is important that patients always discuss the risks and benefits of such therapies with their physician. Additionally, an appropriate dietary and physical activity regimen is always the foundation of weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction. Additionally, Wong noted that given the costs of these therapies, that better access is needed for our high risk underserved populations who may benefit from them. Wegovy is a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist injectable therapy approved by the Federal Drug Administration for chronic weight management in adults with who are obese or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol. Wegovy is to be used in addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. Novo Nordisk supported the study. About UCI’s Brilliant Future campaign: Publicly launched on October 4, 2019, the Brilliant Future campaign aims to raise awareness and support for UCI. By engaging 75,000 alumni and garnering $2 billion in philanthropic investment, UCI seeks to reach new heights of excellence in student success, health and wellness, research and more. The School of Medicine plays a vital role in the success of the campaign. Learn more by visiting https://brilliantfuture.uci.edu/uci-school-of-medicine/. About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu. Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at https://news.uci.edu/media-resources.
Rutgers University Researchers at Rutgers and Emory University are gaining insights into how schizophrenia develops by studying the strongest-known genetic risk factor. When a small portion of Chromosome 3 is missing – known as 3q29 deletion syndrome – it increases the risk for schizophrenia by about 40 fold. Researchers have now analyzed overlapping patterns of altered gene activity in two models of 3q29 deletion syndrome, including mice where the deletion has been engineered in using CRIPSR, and human brain organoids, or three-dimensional tissue cultures used to study disease. These two systems both exhibit impaired mitochondrial function. This dysfunction can cause energy shortfalls in the brain and result in psychiatric symptoms and disorders. “Our data give strong support to the hypothesis that mitochondrial dysregulation is a contributor to the development of schizophrenia,” said Jennifer Mulle, associate professor of psychiatry, neuroscience and cell biology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a co-senior author of the study published in Science Advances. “The interplay between mitochondrial dynamics and neuronal maturation is an important area for additional detailed and rigorous study.” Mulle, a member of the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Rutgers, and colleagues first showed that 3q29 deletion was a risk factor for schizophrenia in 2010. The findings converge with work on another genetic risk factor for schizophrenia, 22q11 deletion syndrome (or DiGeorge syndrome), which has also been found to involve disrupted mitochondrial function. “For genetic variants associated with schizophrenia, we want to understand the primary pathology at the cellular level,” said Ryan Purcell, assistant professor of cell biology at Emory University School of Medicine and co-lead author of the study. “This gives us a foothold, which may help cut through schizophrenia’s polygenic complexity and better understand the neurobiology.” About one in 30,000 people are born with 3q29 deletion syndrome. In addition to increasing the risk for schizophrenia, 3q29 deletion can include intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder and congenital heart defects. The effect of 3q29 deletion on schizophrenia risk is more than any single known gene variant, but the contributions of individual genes within the deletion are still being unraveled. The finding that various schizophrenia-associated chromosomal deletions impair mitochondria runs counter to an expectation in the field that such mutations should alter proteins in the synapses that connect neurons. However, mitochondria are critical for energy-hungry synapses’ function – so these models may not be in conflict. It was also surprising that 3q29 cells have poorly functioning mitochondria because only one of the 22 genes in the deletion appears to encode a protein located in mitochondria. However, that gene or others within the interval may instead regulate the production or importation of mitochondrial proteins, the researchers said. Mitochondria, which are found in every cell, produce energy from sugar or fat. Sometimes this process is aerobic (done with extra oxygen from inhaled air) and sometimes anaerobic (done without oxygen). As a result of altered mitochondrial function, 3q29 cells lack metabolic flexibility, meaning their mitochondria have difficulty adapting to changes in sources of energy. This may interfere with neuronal development because maturing neurons need to switch to relying on aerobic energy production as they differentiate. The results illustrate how 3q29 deletion affects the whole body, not just the brain: The effects on mitochondria are seen in kidney cells as well as in brain cells. Individuals with 3q29 deletion syndrome also tend to be smaller in size, possibly because of altered fat metabolism. “Eventually, we want to understand which cellular changes like these are linked to specific clinical outcomes, which could help in designing more effective therapeutic strategies,” Purcell said. /Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.
PIMMIT HILLS, VA — To help meet an urgent need for canine blood donations, dog owners can now have their pets safely donate blood at a Falls Church area veterinary hospital. Veterinary Emergency Group, a pet ER located at 7500 Leesburg Pike Suite 11 in Falls Church, announced the launch of its blood bank program. Dog donors are now being sought at the Falls Church location ahead of the program rolling out nationally. The veterinary hospital noted canine blood donations are one of the most urgent needs among veterinarians. Blood donations may be used to treat injuries, trauma, diseases such as anemia, blood cell damage, internal bleeding and immune-mediated diseases as well as for surgeries. Jessie Brown, blood bank director at Veterinary Emergency Group, told Patch that there are a limited amount of commercial veterinary blood banks to supply clinics around the U.S. Red blood cell donations expire every 28 to 35 days, so veterinary hospitals often have to replenish supplies. “VEG blood bank helps with this supply issue for the Falls Church area,” said Brown. “At VEG we are committed to helping people and their pets when they need it the most, and our heroes help us accomplish this by ensuring we have blood products when we need them! We are also open to sharing blood products to local veterinary clinics so no patients go without the life saving products.” Brown says it is safe and not painful for dogs to donate blood. The only requirement is that dogs have to sit or lay still for 10 to 15 minutes during the process. Some even fall asleep during the blood donation, according to Brown. If a dog shows signs of being uncomfortable during a blood donation, the process stops immediately. “We strive to make the donation process as positive and enjoyable for our heroes as possible by providing a comfortable donation experience filled with love, celebration and delicious treats,” said Brown. “Our [heroes] help us save pets all over the nation so we make sure to celebrate at every donation.” Before blood donations, dogs receive a full physical exam from a Veterinary Emergency Group doctor and blood count screening at no cost to the pet owner. Dog blood donors typically donate blood once every other month, and the donation information is shared with the pet’s veterinarian. Interested dog owners can contact [email protected] for more information.
Key Takeaways It’s normal for your blood pressure to temporarily increase during exercise, but it’s usually followed by a marked decrease. People with high or borderline high blood pressure stand to benefit the most from this post-exercise effect. Walking, cycling, boxing, and yoga are all beginner-friendly workouts that can help you manage your blood pressure. Getting active is an effective and non-invasive way to manage your blood pressure and overall health. However, less than a third of Americans meet the national recommendations for physical activity, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey conducted in 2020. Adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, plus at least two muscle-strengthening activities per week, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Aerobic exercise is a wide-ranging category that covers everything from brisk walking to dance classes or water aerobics, and that weekly target can be spread out across multiple sessions per week. The best exercise regimen for you is one you enjoy enough to keep doing it, Bill Roberts, MD, told Verywell. Roberts, Chief Medical Officer for the American College of Sports Medicine, added that working towards a goal like a ski season or a hiking trip can help keep you on track. But if your starting point is a primarily sedentary lifestyle, just stepping away from your desk to go for a walk or climb a few flights of stairs is a positive change, Roberts said. A study published in 2019 in the journal Hypertension found that adults who got up and walked around for three minutes of every 30 minutes seated had improved blood pressure compared to those who remained seated for the whole workday. Regular Exercise Can Help You Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure Physical activity can benefit your health on multiple levels: weight management, heart health, and reducing emotional stress, just to name a few factors. Managing these aspects of health indirectly helps to lower blood pressure, and exercise has a real-time blood-pressure-lowering effect. When you exercise, your blood vessels dilate (become wider) so more blood can reach working muscle tissue, Rich Severin, PT, DPT, PhD, told Verywell. To deliver an increased blood volume, your heart has to pump more forcefully, and it’s normal for your blood pressure to rise during your workout. But once you’re finished, your blood pressure may drop below its starting rate. Severin, a cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy specialist, explained that your blood vessels remain dilated in the moments after exercise, even as your heart rate and blood flow return to normal. This can result in a five to eight-point reduction in blood pressure starting about three to five minutes after exercise. This effect is called “post-exercise hypotension” (PEH), which tends to be more pronounced in people with high blood pressure. People across all levels of physical fitness can benefit from PEH, both in the hours after a single workout and in the long term, with regular exercise. Intense Workouts May Temporarily Spike Your BP Exercising increases your blood pressure in the short term, which makes sense when considering what’s happening in your body. Your heart works extra hard during exercise for three reasons, Roberts said: To supply muscles with oxygenated blood To remove waste products like lactic acid from the muscles To manage your body temperature by moving blood around At the same time, your working muscles are contracting and pushing blood around the body with greater force. “As you start to exercise, your heart rate is going to go up, and you may see a temporary increase in blood pressure, which for most people probably levels off after they get through the warm-up and get moving,” Roberts said. Most people can handle this temporary spike, but listening to your body for signs of overexertion is important. If you experience any dizziness, chest pain, jaw pain, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness during activity, you should slow down and get a physical exam before resuming your exercise routine, Severin said. 5 Beginner-Friendly Workouts to Lower Blood Pressure For the vast majority of people that come through Roberts’ office, the first challenge is getting off the couch. Roberts recommends starting slow if you’re new to exercise, as engaging in more intense workouts risks spiking your blood pressure to dangerous levels. Start exercising at low intensity in small intervals—even a ten-minute walk during your lunch break can temporarily lower your blood pressure. Here are some beginner-friendly workouts to get you moving. Walking Walking is a great way to ease into exercise since it requires no special equipment, and you can do it at your own pace. For people starting from square one, Roberts said a five-minute walk is a great place to begin. Once you get in the habit, you can add one minute every day until you reach about 30 minutes, and then work on increasing your intensity. “The most important thing is you choose something that you like, so you’ll keep doing it,” Roberts said. So if you don’t like to run, there’s no need to work up to running. Cycling Riding a bike is another beginner-friendly exercise option if you have the equipment. You can ride outside at a relatively leisurely pace or use a stationary bike that allows you to adjust the intensity. Cycling mainly activates the leg muscles, which causes the blood vessels in the legs to dilate and allow more blood flow. The more dilation, the better—you want dilation throughout the body if possible, but the legs contain a lot of muscle mass and, therefore, a lot of blood vessels, Severin said. If you’re working a smaller muscle group, you’ll experience dilation across a smaller area and a more significant net increase in blood pressure while you’re working out, he continued. Activity that engages more of your muscles will lead to more widespread dilation and lower blood pressure. Swimming Swimming is one example of a full-body workout that engages several muscle groups at once. Not only does swimming get
Dear doctors: I’m a 97-year-old woman. Sometimes, my blood pressure drops, and I faint. It lasts just a few seconds because, as soon as I’m prone, I wake up. I don’t have any cardiac issues, and there’s no pain. What might be causing this? Dear reader: Each time the heart beats, it sends freshly oxygenated blood into the closed loop of the circulatory system. The result is a sustained force against the walls of the arteries, veins and capillaries, which we refer to as blood pressure. When we think about how blood pressure can adversely affect health, the focus is primarily on hypertension — blood pressure that’s higher than normal, which increases the risk of developing heart disease and having a stroke. But having blood pressure that’s lower than normal — hypotension — can have a negative impact on health. When blood pressure drops too far, body tissues begin to develop a deficit of oxygen. This can cause symptoms that range from mild to severe. A substantial or sustained drop in blood pressure can be life-threatening. Readings of less than 90/60 mm Hg are considered hypotension. But how far blood pressure can drop before someone begins to feel the effects varies. Symptoms include feeling lightheaded or dizzy, headache, confusion, fatigue, nausea, having episodes of blurred or altered vision, pain in the neck or back, changes to heartbeat and fainting. It’s possible you are experiencing one or more of these and not associating them with low blood pressure. Hypotension can arise from causes including dehydration, infection, exhaustion, nerve damage from diabetes, the effects of alcohol, abnormal heart rhythms, heart disease and certain heart conditions. Sudden changes in position, such as from sitting to standing, can cause a drop in blood pressure. So can certain medications, including those used to manage heart failure and hypertension. Treatment can include a change of medication, changes to hydration or diet and treatment to address cardiac issues. Compression stockings, which help blood stay in the upper body, also can help. Because your episodes of hypotension lead to fainting, it’s important to seek prompt medical attention. Fainting is dangerous for anyone, but the risk of fracture or head injury is greater in older adults. Dr. Eve Glazier and Dr. Elizabeth Ko are UCLA Health internists.
The risks of high blood pressure while pregnant have prompted a panel of medical experts to recommend all pregnant people get blood pressure screenings at every prenatal visit. The draft recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel that makes evidence-based recommendations about ways to prevent disease, advises that all pregnant people, regardless of hypertension history, have their blood pressure measured throughout their pregnancy. “It’s very important for women to have their blood pressure monitored, especially during pregnancy,” said Li Zhou, M.D., Ph.D., medical director, Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Women’s Heart Program. “Having hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, during pregnancy can cause a life-or-death situation for both mother and baby.” Norton Women’s Care Choose an OB/GYN who works closely with specialists with expertise in women’s heart conditions and complex pregnancies. Issues caused by high blood pressure, including preeclampsia, and eclampsia, are among the top causes of the rising maternal mortality rate in the United States. High blood pressure while pregnant also increases the risk of low birth weight and possibly can lead to preterm delivery. In addition, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, and kidney injury. Over the long term, high blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to a life time of hypertension and resulting in an increased risk of having cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension that begins during pregnancy is defined as systolic pressure equal to or greater than 140 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or diastolic blood pressure equal to or greater than 90 mmHg. “If a woman is planning to become pregnant and she has a history of hypertension, there are important measures that can be taken,” Dr. Zhou said. “Talking to her OB/GYN and even establishing a relationship with the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Women’s Heart Program can be very important to ensure a successful pregnancy.” Norton Women’s Care OB/GYNs work closely with the Women’s Heart Program, Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine and other specialists, so patients benefit from multiple viewpoints and areas of expertise. A hypertension disorder affects 1 out of every 7 deliveries in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Patients who are Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, as well as those who are older, are more at risk.