High Blood Pressure May Have A New Answer For Better Results, Renal Denervation

High blood pressure has been one of the biggest issues for Americans, not only is it difficult to control but also only 23% of people with high blood pressure actually achieve their treatment goals according to the American Heart Association. Usually treating high blood pressure means changing your lifestyle and making sure you eat your medication. It is a lifelong commitment you need to make as neglecting your high blood pressure will put a strain on your heart, eventually causing you cardiovascular issues as well.

Doctors often recommend things like losing weight, getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, cutting back on salt and alcohol, and managing stress. When that does not work, you have take the support of medication. but there happen to be other people who are resistant to medication as well, so are they left with no options?

In 2023, the US government approved a new treatment for high blood pressure called renal denervation. It's a procedure where doctors use a thin tube (catheter) to calm down nerves near the kidneys that contribute to high blood pressure.

Why Should Renal Denervation Be Considered?

This treatment is for people whose blood pressure is still too high even after trying healthy lifestyle changes and medications. This approval came after several well-designed studies compared the real procedure to a fake one (called a sham procedure), where patients went through the motions of the procedure but didn't actually have the nerves treated. Most of these studies showed that the real procedure did lower blood pressure a bit, in people with different levels of high blood pressure, from mild to very hard-to-treat. It's important to know that it doesn't work the same for everyone, and doctors are still trying to figure out who will benefit the most. So far, it seems pretty safe, and ongoing studies are looking at how well it works and how safe it is over a longer period. To make sure people get the best care, it's important for teams of doctors, including blood pressure specialists and doctors trained to do the procedure, to work together. This will help them decide who is a good candidate and carefully weigh the risks and benefits. Talking openly with patients and considering what they want is also key, so they can make the best choices for themselves.

How This Is Used For High Blood Pressure Treatment?

Some people have high blood pressure that doesn't get better even with medicine. This is called resistant hypertension. A treatment option is renal denervation (RDN). It's a simple procedure where doctors use heat which is radiofrequency ablation to quiet down the nerves in the arteries of the kidneys. This helps lower blood pressure. Renal denervation (RDN) is a relatively new procedure, so its long-term effects aren't fully known yet. While it has been shown to effectively lower blood pressure, there are some potential risks. Some patients might experience a slow heart rate during the procedure, which can be treated with medication. The heat used in the procedure could cause narrowing of the renal arteries in some cases. This can be fixed with a stent which is a tiny tube inserted to widen the artery. Also the imaging used during the procedure can cause bruising at the puncture site which is usually in the thigh. There's also a small chance of a pseudoaneurysm, a collection of blood outside the artery or a tear in the renal artery.