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High blood pressure is a serious health issue affecting millions of people worldwide. Despite efforts to manage it through lifestyle changes, such as improving diet and exercise habits, and taking prescribed medications, many people still struggle to keep their blood pressure under control.
This puts them at greater risk for life-threatening conditions like heart disease, kidney problems, or stroke.
A Simple Procedure for Resistant High Blood Pressure
A recent study published in the medical journal JAMA highlights a promising new treatment for people whose high blood pressure can’t be managed with medication.
This minimally invasive procedure, called renal denervation (RDN), uses sound energy to target nerves connected to the kidneys. These nerves play a key role in regulating blood pressure.
The procedure is similar to placing a stent, a small device used to open blocked blood vessels. RDN is designed for people with resistant high blood pressure, where traditional methods have failed.
How Renal Denervation Works
Renal denervation is performed using a small tube, or catheter, which is inserted through a tiny hole in the wrist or groin.
The catheter is guided into the blood vessel that supplies blood to the kidneys. Once in place, the device delivers sound energy (or sometimes radiofrequency energy) to the tissues surrounding the blood vessel.
This energy reduces the activity of the nerves that contribute to high blood pressure. By lowering the activity of these nerves, the body can better regulate blood pressure levels.
After the procedure is complete, the catheter is removed, and the process is repeated for the other kidney. Because the procedure is minimally invasive, recovery time is quick, and it doesn’t require large incisions.
Proven Effectiveness in Clinical Trials
A large clinical trial, known as the Radiance II trial, tested the effectiveness of this procedure. The study included 224 patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure who had not responded well to medication.
The results were encouraging: patients experienced significant reductions in blood pressure, which lasted for at least two months after the procedure.
This new study builds on earlier research that demonstrated the procedure’s success in treating patients with mild to moderate high blood pressure, as well as those with resistant hypertension.
Across all these studies, RDN has consistently shown the ability to lower blood pressure in a wide range of cases.
Consistent Results Across Studies
The findings of the Radiance II trial were supported by data from two earlier studies, all published in JAMA Cardiology. These studies included over 500 patients and confirmed the procedure’s ability to reliably reduce blood pressure in diverse patient groups.
Dr. Stephen Jenkins, one of the researchers involved in the study, emphasized that RDN offers an important new option for patients whose high blood pressure cannot be managed with medication alone.
For these patients, RDN could provide a safe and effective way to lower blood pressure and reduce the risks of serious complications.
A Potential New Option for Patients
While more research is needed to confirm the long-term benefits of this procedure, the consistent results across multiple studies suggest that RDN could become a valuable tool in the fight against high blood pressure.
For patients who haven’t found success with traditional treatments, this minimally invasive procedure offers new hope.
If you or someone you know is struggling with high blood pressure, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider to explore the best treatment options.
Whether through medication, lifestyle changes, or emerging therapies like renal denervation, managing high blood pressure is essential for protecting long-term health.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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