High blood pressure had never been a concern for Donna, CFO of Banner Health’s Plans and Networks division and an avid long-distance runner. That changed after a sudden injury.

While training for a marathon, Donna suffered a gluteus medius tear and a stress fracture in her ankle. The pain and stress from the injury unexpectedly caused her blood pressure to spike.

“I woke up one morning really dizzy and realized my blood pressure was really high,” she says. Her primary care physician prescribed medication to bring it down. Banner Aetna noticed the change in her chart and proactively reached out, recommending she use her Hello Heart benefit.

Easy Tracking That Fits Into Real Life

Donna received a blood pressure monitor and began tracking her numbers through the Hello Heart app, as her doctor advised. She checked her blood pressure three times a week, both morning and evening.

“It’s so nice not having to write anything down. Hello Heart automatically logs my readings, and I can share them with my doctor anytime,” she explains.

She also leaned into the app’s coaching tips. A self-described “data geek,” Donna experimented with relaxing for two minutes or taking a reading after using the restroom, just to see if the results changed. 

“It was right,” she says with a laugh.

Insights That Made a Difference

The results were powerful. Within 90 days, Donna’s blood pressure began to stabilize. At her six-month checkup, her doctor took her off medication entirely and recommended she continue monitoring.

Donna found Hello Heart’s clinician report especially helpful. It made it easy for her doctor to track her progress and see trends over time: “My clinician loves the report. She said it has great information and great insights, and she just uploads it directly into MyChart.”

The experience was eye-opening. Donna had always associated high blood pressure with lifestyle or family history, not a sports injury. “I never thought my blood pressure could be impacted by something like that,” she says. The event reinforced how important it is to know your numbers, even if you feel healthy.

Moving Forward with Peace of Mind

Today, Donna is back to marathon training, pain-free and with steady blood pressure. She plans to keep using Hello Heart.

“Monitoring your blood pressure is so important regardless of your fitness level,” she says. “I would highly recommend Hello Heart.”

Her story is an important reminder: even active, health-conscious people can face unexpected heart challenges. With Hello Heart, Donna gained the tools and insights to get back on track—and go the extra mile, both on the course and for her heart.

👉 Check your eligibility to use Hello Heart for your own health
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