The postpartum period is described as the 'joyful time of bonding' with newborns, and for most mothers, this could be an uncomfortable time full of health-related complications. Women of color face specific challenges that most women are likely to ignore and overlook. Among those challenges is the condition of postpartum hypertension, which could pose long-term damage to the health of the mother and the child. Current studies indicate that microaggressions and systemic racism contribute greatly to blood pressure levels and further health conditions.

A medical condition occurring in a female after childbirth whereby her blood pressure is higher than normal. Such hypertension may become a continuation of preeclampsia or might develop independently, during the postpartum time. High blood pressure in this period is not merely a temporary inconveniences it increases the possibility of stroke and organ damage while also contributing to long-term diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Blood pressure is measured with two numbers.

• Systolic pressure: the pressure of the blood against walls of the artery during a pulse.
• Diastolic pressure: is the pressure found in arteries at any time between heartbeats.

Although levels under 120/80 millimeters of mercury are considered perfectly normal, just small increases represent significant health problems for new mothers.

What Are Microaggressions?

Microaggression refers to subtle verbal or nonverbal actions that affect individuals from marginalized or non-mainstream communities. The term was introduced around 1970 by Dr. Chester Pierce, a Harvard psychiatrist. Dr. Pierce coined the phrase to describe the frequent insults and dismissive behaviors he observed being directed at Black individuals by non-Black people. He recognized that these repeated experiences could significantly impact a person’s mental and physical health over time.

Microaggressions can be intentional or unintentional. There are 3 types-

• Microassaults are deliberate and intentional slights or insult
• Microinvalidation is when someone attempts to discredit or minimize the experiences of a person
• Microinsults are rude, insensitive comments that subtly disrespect a person’s racial heritage or identity

How Microaggressions Elevate Blood Pressure?

A study published in the journal Hypertension points out the association between microaggressions and high blood pressure in postpartum women of color. These are subtle, often unconscious slights, such as comments like, "You need to calm down," or being labeled "angry" for speaking assertively. While these remarks may seem trivial to some, their impact is profound.

The researchers studied nearly 400 women of color in Philadelphia and New York City, and 38% reported experiencing microaggressions during their pregnancy care. The study revealed that women subjected to these remarks had, on average, systolic blood pressure readings 2.12 points higher and diastolic readings 1.43 points higher. This increase in blood pressure highlights the potential health risks associated with subtle forms of racism and discrimination during maternal care.

It was more significant at higher levels of structural racism. Systolic was increased by 7.55 points, and diastolic was increased by 6.03 points. Such variations often determine the necessity for antihypertensive medication.

Microaggressions are described as "death by a thousand cuts." They go far beyond postpartum hypertension, these little cuts in day-to-day exposure result in chronic stress that has its physical manifestation as:

Some examples include:

Physical symptoms: Upset stomachs, tension and headaches.

Mental health challenges: Stress, depression and sense of hopelessness.

Biological consequences: Telomere shortening of protective ends of the chromosomes, vulnerability to chronic disease.

Also Read: Who Are 'Sandwich Carers'? Why Are Their Mental Health Declining?

Trust and healing through the healthcare system are sadly converted into a hotbed for all these experiences as patients describe not only disrespect, hearing, and not being taken seriously but also, in many instances, the added strain of their actual medical condition.

Structural Racism

Structural racism—the ways in which systemic policies and practices disadvantage people—exacerbates this issue. For example, women of color living in communities characterized by systemic inequities are more likely to face health difficulties stemming from: access to adequate quality care, implicit bias within healthcare providers, and increased exposures to stressors such as poverty and unsafe conditions of living.

Microaggressions have significant impacts that well exceed the postpartum period and even healthcare venues. Studies show that Black men are stereotyped as being aggressive and that this stereotype can cause dangerous discrimination. Latina women are often objectified, reduced to physical characteristics, which continues the pattern of societal biases.

Asian Americans suffer from backhanded compliments regarding their English fluency, though they have lived in the United States their entire lives, which illustrates a subtle yet pervasive form of racism that denies their identity and experiences. Though seemingly small and insignificant, these microaggressions carry a heavy emotional and psychological toll on the people who suffer them.

Over time, these experiences add up, leading to mistrust, social withdrawal, and other unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse or denial.

Tips to Combat Postpartum Hypertension

Postpartum hypertension, a critical health issue for many new mothers, is often exacerbated by microaggressions and systemic inequities. A systematic approach to tackling these challenges involves empowering individuals, creating inclusive healthcare systems, and addressing structural barriers.

1. Stress-Reduction Strategies

Stress from microaggressions significantly impacts health outcomes. Providing women with tools to manage stress can help mitigate the effects of postpartum hypertension. Key strategies include:

• Cognitive Restructuring: Encouraging women to reframe negative experiences positively can reduce the emotional toll of stressors. Simple practices like journaling or mindfulness exercises can assist in shifting perspectives.
• Social Support Systems: Building robust support networks—through friends, family, or postpartum groups—creates safe spaces for sharing and understanding, reducing isolation.
• Therapeutic Emotional Expression: Talking openly with therapists or trusted confidants helps new mothers process their experiences and relieve emotional burdens.

2. Inclusivity in Healthcare Settings

Healthcare environments must prioritize inclusivity and trust to ensure women feel respected and heard. Actionable steps include:

• Training on Implicit Bias: Comprehensive programs for healthcare providers can improve their ability to identify and address unconscious biases, fostering more empathetic and equitable care.
• Empowering Patient Advocacy: Women should feel confident expressing concerns about their care. Advocacy programs can support patients, ensuring their voices are acknowledged without judgment.
• Culturally Sensitive Care: Delivering care to respect cultural and personal differences in healthcare ensures the uniqueness of every patient's needs are met.

3. Acknowledging and Addressing Structural Inequities

Most postpartum health disparities have been contributed by systemic racism and lack of resources. That is the primary reason for dealing with the source of the problems.

• Investment in Underserved Areas: Better access to quality healthcare, education, and resources in these areas can eliminate health disparities.
• Institutional Accountability: Policies that ensure regular audits and transparency in healthcare institutions can make systems accountable for equitable care practices.
• Way Forward: A Call to Action
• Postpartum hypertension is a reflection of deeper societal challenges that require urgent attention. Solutions lie in empowering women with stress-management tools, fostering inclusivity within healthcare, and dismantling structural inequities.

Each effort—whether individual, institutional or systemic—contributes to a larger goal of reducing health disparities and improving outcomes for generations to come.

Microaggressions: Clarification, Evidence, and Impact. Perspectives on Psychological Science. 2020

Language Matters: Considering Microaggressions in Science. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2018

Unconscious biases: racial microaggressions in American Indian health care. J Am Board Fam Med. 2015

Racism and Postpartum Blood Pressure in a Multiethnic Prospective Cohort. Hypertension. 2025

A new poll found that the number of American adults who are unable to afford necessary health care services and medications has reached its highest level since 2021. This is as per an analysis by Gallup and West Health. The findings show a growing gap in access to quality health care, especially between the high and the low-income Americans.

What Does The Data Say?

As per the numbers, 11% of adults in 2024, which makes it around 29 million people were classified as "cost desperate". This means that they lacked access to affordable care and were unable to pay for necessary medical treatments. This figure has increased from 8% in 2021. The survey was conducted form November 18 to December 27. This included responses from more than 6,200 adults.

What Is The Impact On Minority Communities?

The financial burden of health care is affecting certain demographic groups more than others. The percentage of Hispanic adults categorized as cost desperate increased from 10% in 2021 to 18% in 2024. Similarly, 14% of Black adults faced cost desperation in 2024, up from 9% in 2021. In contrast, the percentage of white adults in this category remained steady at 8%.

At the same time, the number of Americans classified as "cost secure"—those who can access and afford quality care—has fallen significantly. Only 51% of adults reported feeling financially secure about their health care costs in 2024, down from 61% in 2022. The decline was especially sharp for Hispanic and Black adults, with only 34% of Hispanic respondents and 41% of Black respondents feeling cost secure, compared to 51% and 54% in 2021, respectively.

ALSO READ: American Woman Who Compared US Healthcare System With India Says Affordability Is An Issue In America

Is There A Gap Between Income Levels?

The data also highlight that there is a financial divide in health care access between high and low income households. Among individuals earning less than $24,000 annually, the percentage of those categorized as cost desperate rose sharply from 14% in 2021 to 25% in 2024. In contrast, for those earning $180,000 or more, cost desperation fell from 2% to just 1% over the same period.

Increasing Concerns Over Health Care Affordability

As financial strain increases, more Americans are worried about their ability to afford health care when needed. In 2024, 35% of adults said they would be unable to pay for medical services if required, compared to 29% in 2021. The data suggests that economic pressures are making it harder for people to access timely and necessary medical treatments.

Policy Changes and Their Potential Impact

The affordability crisis is unfolding at a time when key policy decisions could make access to health care even more challenging for many Americans. Medicaid, the largest source of health care coverage in the U.S., is at risk of severe funding cuts under a House-passed budget proposal that could slash up to $880 billion over the next decade. If enacted, such cuts would likely force millions of low-income individuals off Medicaid, exacerbating financial and health disparities.

Additionally, new tariffs proposed by the Trump administration could drive up drug prices. Analysts warn that if major exporters of generic medications, such as India, are affected by these levies, the cost of essential prescription drugs could increase, leading to further accessibility issues.

A Growing Crisis With No Clear Solution

The findings indicate that access to affordable health care is becoming more difficult for millions of Americans, particularly those in lower-income brackets and minority communities. With policy shifts and economic challenges on the horizon, health care affordability remains a pressing concern for many, with no immediate solutions in sight.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has recently approved Qfitila (fitusiran) for routine prophylaxis to prevent or to reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with hemophilia. It works on those with hemophilia A or hemophilia B, with or without factor VII or IX inhibitors which neutralizes antibodies.

While subcutaneous Qfitilia does not replace the missing coagulation factor VII or IX, it reduces the amount of protein antithrombin, which leads to an increase in thrombin. It is an enzyme critical for blood clotting. The dosing starts at once every two months and it is also based on the FDA-cleared Innovance Antithrombin companion diagnostic test.

However, as of now, there is no fixed doses of Qfitila is not approved mainly due the risk excessive clotting. It has also a boxed warning for thrombotic events and gallbladder disease.

One of the most common side effects reported were viral infection, nasopharyngitis, and bacterial infection.

How Was This Approved?

The approval came on the basis of two randomized clinical trials that had 177 adult and pediatric male patients with either hemophilia A or hemophilia B enrolled. Among the participants with inhibitors who received the antithrombin-based dosing regimen of Qfitlia, there was a 73% reduction in the estimated annualized bleeding rate. This was seen in comparison with those who received on-demand treatment with bypassing agents.

Among the participants without inhibitors receiving the antithrombin-based dosing regimen of Afitlia, there was a 71% reduction in the estimated annualized bleeding rate versus that seen in those who received on-demand treatment with clotting factor concentrates.

"Today's approval of Qfitlia is significant for patients with hemophilia because it can be administered less frequently than other existing options," Tanya Wroblewski, M.D., deputy director of the Division of Non-Malignant Hematology in the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement.

What Is Hemophilia?

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Orevention (CDC) it is an inherited bleeding disorder in which blood does not clot properly. It can lead to spontaneous bleeding as well as bleeding following injuries or surgeries. Blood usually has proteins called clotting factors that can help one to stop bleeding. However, people with hemophilia have low levels of either factor VII or factor IX.

Hemophilia could also result in bleeding within joints which can then lead to chronic joint disease and pain. It could lead to bleeding in head and in brain, causing long term problems such as seizures or paralysis. In severe cases it can also lead to death if the bleeding cannot be stopped.

The most common types of hemophilia are inherited, thus it is a condition that is present from birth. There are rare cases where hemophilia happens later in life, which is known as acquired hemophilia.

Difference between Hemophilia A and Hemophilia B

As per the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation, hemophilia A, also called factor VIII (8) deficiency or classic hemophilia, is a genetic disorder caused by missing or defective factor VIII (FVIII), a clotting protein. Although it is passed down from parents to children, about 1/3 of cases found have no previous family history.

Hemophilia B, also called factor IX (FIX) deficiency or Christmas disease, is a genetic disorder caused by missing or defective factor IX, a clotting protein. Although it is passed down from parents to children, about 1/3 of cases are caused by a spontaneous mutation, a change in a gene.

Shingles, a painful viral infection due to the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), is primarily known for its blistering rash and nerve pain. New research indicates, however, that shingles vaccine can be significant in preventing dementia. This recent finding paves the way to new avenues to understand the association between viral illness and brain wellness, which might change preventive treatment against cognitive degeneration in aging individuals.

Once a person has had chickenpox, he or she carries the varicella-zoster virus for life. The virus lies dormant within nerve cells and may reappear years later as shingles, commonly because of compromised immunity with age, stress, or illness.

Shingles appears as a painful rash, typically on one side of the body, and may persist for weeks. Aside from the rash, the infection may cause severe complications like postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a long-term nerve pain syndrome that lasts for months or even years. In rare instances, shingles may infect the eye, causing blindness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 1 in every 3 Americans will develop shingles at some time during their lifetime. Vaccines have been recommended to avoid the condition, but recent studies indicate they might also have an added bonus—prevention from dementia.

Shocking Link Between Shingles and Dementia

Dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, is a rapidly increasing worldwide health issue, with millions of older adults at risk. Although the causes of dementia are still unknown, researchers have long suspected that some viruses, specifically those in the herpes family (which includes VZV), may play a role in cognitive decline.

A study recently published in Nature determined that getting the shingles shot lowered the risk of developing dementia dramatically. Scientists followed more than 280,000 elderly people in Wales who got the original shingles vaccine, Zostavax, and identified a 20% decrease in dementia incidence over the next seven years.

Lead author Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer of Stanford University said the results were "very robust" and added that women appeared to gain more benefit from the vaccine than men. Since women are at greater risk for dementia, these results could have important implications for future prevention efforts.

Can Shingles Cause Cognitive Decline?

Although no one knows the exact mechanisms, several theories discuss how the shingles virus might enhance the risk of dementia:

Inflammation and Brain Damage: The varicella-zoster virus has the ability to cause inflammation in the body, including the brain. Chronic inflammation is recognized to speed up cognitive decline and may play a role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Vascular Effects: The virus has the ability to infect blood vessels in the brain, leading to clots or constricting blood flow. Decreased cerebral circulation is a well-documented risk factor for dementia and stroke.

Amyloid Protein Formation: A study by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus indicates that shingles can encourage the formation of amyloid plaques, a characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. These adhesive proteins clump together in the brain, interfering with normal function and speeding up cognitive decline.

Can Shingles Vaccination Protect Against Dementia?

The research suggests that shingles vaccination can lower the risk of dementia by inhibiting reactivation of the virus and triggering inflammation in the brain. It is unclear, however, whether the same protective mechanism works for the newer, more effective Shingrix vaccine, which supplanted Zostavax in 2020.

In contrast to Zostavax, which had a live but attenuated form of the virus, Shingrix is a genetically modified vaccine that consists of certain viral proteins to stimulate an immune response. Shingrix has been 97% effective in preventing shingles in clinical trials, versus 51% for Zostavax. Whether it can help prevent dementia, however, is an open question scientists are eager to investigate.

Who Should Receive the Shingles Vaccine?

The CDC advises Shingrix for people aged 50 and above, as well as younger adults with compromised immune systems. The vaccine is given in two doses, spaced a few months apart, and is very effective in preventing shingles and its complications.

With these advantages, however, vaccine acceptance continues to be low, with less than 40% of eligible Americans having gotten their shots. The most frequent side effects are mild flu-like symptoms and pain at the site of injection, but experts point out that the advantages far outweigh the risks.

Tips for Reducing Dementia Risk

Although shingles vaccination holds great potential for dementia prevention, it is not the only answer. Experts suggest an integrated approach to brain health that involves:

Living an Active Lifestyle: Physical exercise on a regular basis enhances circulation to the brain and averts cognitive loss.

Healthy Nutrition: A diet modelled on Mediterranean cuisine, featuring high intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, is supportive of brain function.

Social and Mental Stimulation: Mental activity with reading, puzzles, or social engagement may build cognitive reserve.

Control of Chronic Illnesses: Control of high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol lowers the risk of dementia.

The association of shingles with dementia risk demonstrates the complex ways infectious illnesses affect overall well-being. Finding that shingles vaccination can decrease risk of dementia adds yet another persuasive argument to convince older people to be vaccinated. Although more study is necessary to validate the results, the study holds out hope that a straightforward vaccine has a key part to play in maintaining cognitive capacity and enhancing the quality of life among aging groups.

As scientists continue to investigate the link between viral infections and brain health, one thing is certain: guarding yourself against shingles might have advantages that reach far beyond the skin. With the increasing global burden of dementia, interventions such as vaccination could become a key part of the arsenal in the battle against cognitive decline.