People who face sexism and racism are at higher risk of hypertension, a potentially fatal health condition.
A new study found that women who face microaggressions (indirect or subtle acts of discrimination) during pregnancy were more likely to suffer from dangerously high blood pressure.
Women who have recently given birth are already at increased risk of high blood pressure or postpartum hypertension and, in rare cases, it can be life-threatening and lead to the development of heart disease later in life.
Researchers looked at approximately 400 women who had given birth in Philadelphia and New York and reported experiencing microaggressions while receiving health care services during pregnancy and labor.
Researchers found that 38 percent of Asian, Black, and Hispanic women reported facing at least one race- and gender-related microaggression during or after their pregnancy.
And those who experienced at least one microaggression based on race or gender had blood pressure about two points higher three months after giving birth.
The link between high blood pressure and microaggressions was strongest 10 days or more after childbirth, which poses a greater health risk since blood pressure is less likely to be controlled during this time.
Dr Teresa Janevic, an epidemiologist at Columbia University and lead author of the study, said: “It is surprising that the associations were strongest in the late postpartum period, between 12 days and three months after delivery.” This is an emerging critical period for preventing high blood pressure.’
Pregnant women who experienced at least one race- or gender-based microaggression before, during, or immediately after childbirth had blood pressure about two points higher three months after childbirth.
The researchers gave pregnant women a blood pressure monitor to take home and wear twice a day for 10 days, then twice a week for 80 days.
A doctor reviewed the readings and advised the women on how to reduce their numbers if they ever got too high.
Meanwhile, women were asked to rate how often they faced microaggressions (being told they had “pregnancy brain” or being labeled as angry and rude when trying to get proper care), from “never” to “never.” up to “once a week or more.” .’
The researchers also estimated structural racism at the community level with the Structural Racism Effect Index, a publicly available national index.
Blood pressure is measured in two numbers in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
The first number (systolic) represents the pressure caused by the heartbeat and pushing blood through the arteries and the second (diastolic) is the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats.
Healthy blood pressure for adults is 120/80 mm Hg.
Women who had experienced microaggressions during pregnancy had systolic blood pressure 3 mm Hg higher than those who had not experienced microaggressions and diastolic blood pressure about one mm Hg higher.
The average readings for women who had been discriminated against were 121/76 mm Hg, compared to 118/73 mm Hg for those without experience with microaggressions.
Experiencing microaggressions was linked to higher blood pressure after childbirth. The difference in systolic blood pressure between people who experienced at least one microaggression versus none was most pronounced starting at 12 days postpartum and continued through 3 months.
The difference may seem small, but it indicates the very real impact that microaggressions have on blood pressure and the associated risks.
Dr Janevic said: “Our findings provide further evidence that health professionals and policies should focus more intensely on improving equity in maternal health care.”
Her team also found that the impact of microaggressions on blood pressure was most noticeable between 12 and 84 days postpartum, suggesting that these subtle expressions of racism and sexism have a lasting effect on a woman’s blood pressure over time. over time.
Additionally, when they looked at both microaggressions and the extent of structural racism in where a woman lived, they found that those who experienced microaggressions and lived in areas largely divided by race had the highest average blood pressure three months after giving birth.
On the other hand, women who did not experience microaggressions or deep-rooted racism had the lowest blood pressure at three months.
Dr Janevic added: “We need high blood pressure management and interventions to extend beyond the period after birth, when blood pressure may remain sensitive to social health factors as well as microaggressions. racial”.
Overall in the US, a CDC report found that 48 percent of adults ages 18 and older had hypertension between 2020 and 2023, which is about the same prevalence in the 2017-2020 CDC report .
Between eight and 16 percent of pregnant women experience high blood pressure, which, if left untreated, can cause life-threatening complications, such as heart disease and seizures in the mother, and premature birth and even death of the baby.
Black and Hispanic pregnant women are more susceptible to hypertension due to certain genetic factors and stress, as are women who live in rural areas where they are less likely to have easy access to prenatal care.
Older age is also a known risk factor for hypertension during pregnancy due to changes in hormone levels as a woman ages.
High blood pressure is a leading or contributing factor in more than 685,000 deaths each year in the US alone.
According to the CDC, high blood pressure was the leading cause of approximately 685,900 deaths in the US in 2022.
Hypertension typically causes no symptoms, which is why doctors call it a “silent killer,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Over time, high blood pressure can weaken the heart and blood vessels, which can cause cardiovascular disease, including sudden cardiac arrest, and increase the risk of stroke and dementia.
To treat hypertension, doctors will recommend lifestyle changes, such as reaching and maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, reducing salt intake, limiting alcohol, exercising, and making sure you get enough potassium, a mineral and electrolyte involved in important body processes. .