Resistant Hypertension: Causes, Risks, and Advanced Treatment

Resistant hypertension is high blood pressure that remains elevated despite treatment with three or more blood pressure medications. This condition can significantly increase your risk for heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. At PIH Health, our cardiology team offers advanced treatments like renal artery denervation to help manage this challenging condition.

Common Causes of Resistant Hypertension

Resistant hypertension can be caused by several factors, including:

• High sympathetic nerve signals to the kidneys
• Abnormal vascular blood flow to the kidneys (like renal artery stenosis)
• Sleep apnea
• Hormonal imbalances
• Lifestyle factors: poor diet, lack of exercise, or excessive alcohol use

Health Risks of Resistant Hypertension

If left untreated, resistant hypertension can lead to serious health problems:

• Heart Attack: Persistent high blood pressure can damage arteries and lead to coronary artery disease.
• Stroke: Elevated pressure can weaken blood vessels, increasing stroke risk.
• Heart Failure: The heart may weaken over time, struggling to pump efficiently.

Renal Denervation: An Innovative Treatment

If medications aren’t enough to lower your blood pressure, renal denervation may be an option. This minimally invasive procedure targets the nerves in your renal arteries that contribute to high blood pressure.

How Renal Denervation Works

During the procedure, a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in your leg and guided to the renal arteries. Radiofrequency energy is used to disrupt the nerve signals that cause the kidneys to release hormones that raise blood pressure. Suppressing these sympathetic nerves help to lower your BP readings over time.

Benefits of Renal Denervation

• Lower Blood Pressure: Helps reduce blood pressure when medications alone aren’t working.
• Fewer Medications: Some patients may need fewer blood pressure medications after the procedure.
• Improved Quality of Life: Better blood pressure control reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other complications.

Why Choose PIH Health?

Our expert cardiologists at PIH Health specialize in treating resistant hypertension and are skilled in the latest technologies like renal denervation. We provide personalized care designed to help you manage your condition and improve your heart health.

Take Control of Your Blood Pressure

If you’re struggling with resistant hypertension, contact us today to learn more about renal denervation and see if this innovative treatment is right for you.