Chapel Hill, N.C. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — It’s called a silent killer. Nearly half of all adults in the US have it and many don’t even know it. We’re talking about high blood pressure. Most of the time, there are few, if any, symptoms. For some, lifestyle changes like exercising, eating right and not smoking can help. Medications are also available, but many come with side effects that some people cannot tolerate. Now, a new f-d-a approved procedure to lower blood pressure without any side effects.
Billy Mason’s farm has been flourishing for 17 years. He says, “I am an organic grower. I specialize in heirloom tomatoes that I own the domain tomatogod.com.”
Not only enjoying the fruits of his labors outside, but inside as well.
“I love life and, you know, creating and growing things.” says Billy.
Nothing stops Billy, even though he’s lived with hypertension for the last 30 years. At times, he was taking up to eight medications.
Billy says, “And then I had a blood pressure event that sent me to the ER.”
Now people like Billy, who are either medication resistant or just tired of the side effects, have another option —renal denervation.
Rick Stouffer, MD, Interventional Cardiologist at UNC School of Medicine says, “In the people with high blood pressure, often there’s a lot of nerve traffic between the brain and the kidney. The brain is telling the kidney to hold on to sodium. The kidney is telling the brain to cause vasoconstriction. It’s like two teenagers going at it.”
Renal denervation works by modifying the nerve transmission between the head and the kidney.
Doctor Stouffer explains, “We put a catheter in through the femoral artery in the leg, go up to the kidney, modify the nerves on both sides.”
Then ultrasound is used to disrupt the function of these nerves.
“And over time those nerves, the traffic is slowed down, blood pressure comes down.” Doctor Stouffer says.
It worked for Billy. He says, “I’m 73, still kicking it.”
His blood pressure is lower and he’s back getting his hands dirty doing the things he loves.
Two renal nerve denervation devices have been approved by the FDA. After the procedure, everything is removed, and the patient goes home the same day. Side effects include a small risk of infection from inserting the catheter, but there is no damage to the artery and the risk is less than one percent.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Chuck Bennethum, Editor, Matt Goldschmidt.
Sources:
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure
ZAPPING AWAY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
REPORT #3201
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: High blood pressure, aka hypertension, is when the force of the blood going through blood vessels is consistently too high. Factors that can cause high blood pressure are family history, being of older age, sex, race, kidney disease, not being physically active, obesity, alcohol use, sleep apnea, diabetes, smoking, stress, and a diet high in sodium, calories, sugar, and fats. If untreated, high blood pressure can cause stroke, kidney disease, vision loss, plaque build-up in the arteries, sexual disfunctions, heart disease, heart attack, and heart failure. High blood pressure can be prevented by staying active, keeping a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, not smoking, proper use of medications, and by eating healthily.
(Source: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure)
DIAGNOSING: High blood pressure can only be diagnosed by measuring it. A healthy blood pressure has a systolic or upper number under 120 and a diastolic number or lower number under 80. High blood pressure is diagnosed with a systolic number of at least 130 and a diastolic number over 80. A high blood pressure crisis has a systolic number high than 180 and a diastolic number higher than 120, and a medical professional should be contacted immediately after getting two similar readings five minutes apart. Symptoms of high blood pressure crisis are shortness of breath, numbness, weakness, change in vision, difficulty speaking, and pain in the chest and back. If any of those symptoms are present with a high blood pressure reading of over 180/120, call 911.
(Source: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings)
RENAL DENERVATION: Renal denervation is a procedure that treats resistant hypertension, or high blood pressure that is unable to be managed through medication or lifestyle changes. Renal denervation uses ultrasound or radiofrequency energy to destroy the renal nerves in the kidneys to reduce pressure raising nerve activities. This procedure is done by a interventional cardiologist and does not cause damage to the arteries. Renal denervation reduces the risk of heart failure, stroke, and kidney disease by reducing blood pressure, and has a quick recovery time. Some rare complication risks of renal denervation are slower heart rates, bruising, narrowing and tears in the arteries. Renal denervation can cause the patient to reduce or eliminate their blood pressure medication.
* For More Information, Contact: Kendall Daniels
Integrated Communications
UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine
Kendall.daniels@unchealth.unc.edu
(804) 337-6072
Free weekly e-mail on Medical Breakthroughs from Ivanhoe. To sign up: http://www.ivanhoe.com/ftk
