North Carolina's maternal death rate is higher than the national average and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among new moms in the U.S.

One North Carolina woman is determined to shed light on the signs and symptoms through her own experience.

TaShenma Mack, a patient advocate, is well aware of the increased risk of heart disease during pregnancy but was taken by surprise when it affected her. Mack said she was about 21 weeks pregnant when she began experiencing concerning symptoms.

"I noticed I was gaining weight, a significant amount of weight, and having a hard time breathing," Mack recounted. "I couldn't walk three steps and just had a hard time breathing. So, I was going to my doctor's appointment, asking my doctor originally, like, 'What's going on?'"

Her doctor sent her immediately to Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center's OB/GYN emergency department, where she was diagnosed with preeclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy. Age, racial or ethnic disparities, high blood pressure and obesity are the four risk factors of pregnancy-related death identified by the American Heart Association.

To ensure the safety of herself and her baby, Mack underwent a C-section to deliver her daughter prematurely. The baby spent more than 100 days in neonatal intensive care. Mack emphasized at home, she worked to control her own blood pressure, participating in a Novant Health program.

"Basically I had to -- every morning, afternoon, and night -- take my blood pressure, take my medicine, and also take my weight," Mack outlined. "I would have to answer questions about my symptoms on the app, with that information automatically sent over to my OB/GYN and my primary care provider."

Today, Mack has successfully restored her blood pressure to a healthy level and recently celebrated her daughter's first birthday. She emphasized the importance of a healthy lifestyle, being mindful of potential risks and relying on a supportive network.

"Pay attention to those signs -- not being able to breathe, gaining an excess amount of weight, things of that nature -- because not only do you have to take care of yourself, you've got to take care of a baby, too," Mack added.

The American Heart Association recommended expectant parents discuss the signs and risks of heart disease with their doctors, monitor weight and stress levels, and stick to a balanced diet and exercise routine.


get more stories like this via email

People who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, will be dropped from their CoveredCA health plans at the end of August.

The move comes after the Trump administration changed a Biden-era definition of "lawfully present" to revoke health care eligibility for thousands of immigrants.

Christine Smith, policy and legislative advocate for the nonprofit Health Access California, said people only have a few weeks to get medical appointments in before their coverage ends.

"If you're enrolled in Covered California and you're a DACA recipient, the Trump administration just ended your coverage," Smith emphasized. "People should use as much of your health care as you can before the August 31st deadline."

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services defended the move, saying it will save taxpayers money. CoveredCA estimated the change affects about 2,400 DACA recipients in the state who make too much to qualify for Medi-Cal and have jobs not providing health insurance. They can still buy private insurance but it is much more expensive. People who prepaid for their coverage can seek a refund.

Smith predicted it will be a blow not just to those who lose coverage but to the state's health care system as a whole.

"The lines in the ERs are going to be longer because people are not going to be able to get affordable preventive care," Smith projected. "They're just going to get sicker and then end up in the ERs. People will overall incur more medical debt. Hospitals will have more uncompensated care."

The change is nationwide. As of mid-July, about 538,000 people in the DACA program across the U.S. are ineligible to enroll in any state-based insurance marketplace and are unable to access premium subsidies or cost-sharing assistance.

Artificial intelligence is appearing more prominently in many aspects of life and research suggests older populations are curious, yet remain wary of using the technology in their everyday lives.

According to Stats Indiana, there are more than 1.5 million Hoosiers aged 65 and older, or 18% of the state's population. Experts said it is likely the demographic will use AI in some form in the next few years, either by choice or necessity.

Dr. Shaun Grannis, vice president of data and analytics for the Regenstrief Institute on Aging, said AI offers real benefits.

"It can reduce loneliness through conversation, provide reminders for medications and appointments," Grannis outlined. "It can support cognitive stimulation via games, storytelling, news updates."

The technology can also offer a low-pressure way to access information on public services, he added, which is valuable for those with mobility issues or those who feel intimidated by technology.

Grannis cautioned any tool which can be used for good can also lead to problems. He noted AI can create a false sense of companionship and mask social isolation. Overdependence is a legitimate concern, he argued, if the technology becomes a "crutch" for all forms of interaction.

"All cognitive activities or decision-making, it can actually lead to and create a negative feedback loop, lead to a decline in engagement and even basic self-management skills," Grannis explained. "This is risky."

Grannis believes one solution is designing AI systems to complement, not replace, human interaction. He stressed it can be done though building broader support ecosystems including family, friends, caregivers and community services. Grannis emphasized it would encourage real-world activity, prompting the user to go for a walk, call a grandchild or attend a local senior event.

If you have an extra five minutes, you can save a life because you can learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation at no cost from a new mobile, hands-only CPR kiosk.

The new kiosk is in the lobby of Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica. The machine's touch screen gives a brief overview of hands-only CPR and you can practice right there, on a mannequin.

Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, cardiologist at St. John's, said it is an easy way for people to get more comfortable giving chest compressions in an emergency.

"It's a lot like a video game but of course, a lot more important than a video game," Tadwalkar pointed out. "It gives real-time feedback about the depth and rate of compressions, proper hand placement, which are all factors that influence the effectiveness of CPR."

The American Heart Association operates the St. John's mobile kiosk and a stationary model at L-A-X with support from the hospital. Santiago Canyon College in Orange County also has a mobile hands-only C-P-R kiosk now through September, sponsored by Edwards Lifesciences.

Steven Munatones, an Orange County business owner, said he survived what's known as a "widowmaker" heart attack which led to cardiac arrest nine years ago, thanks to his 17-year-old son, who gave him immediate CPR with instructions from a 911 operator.

"You don't have to put your mouth to anybody's mouth," Munatones explained. "You just put your hand on their chest and pump. He saved me, and others can do the same, anywhere. So, it's absolutely a lifesaving, heroic act that anybody can do."

Statistics show 350,000 Americans suffer from cardiac arrest outside a hospital each year and about 90% die, in part because they do not receive CPR. About 70% of those cardiac arrests happen at home, so people often depend on family or friends to give CPR before an ambulance arrives.