High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a health issue many of us are familiar with.
It’s a quiet troublemaker that, if not controlled, can lead to severe problems like heart disease, kidney damage, and strokes.
People often try to manage high blood pressure with healthier lifestyles and medication.
But sometimes, these measures fall short, and blood pressure remains stubbornly high.
In light of this, a new technique, known as renal denervation, is proving to be a game-changer.
A Fresh Hope: Renal Denervation
Renal denervation is an innovative procedure designed to combat high blood pressure. It’s a little like placing a stent – it’s done under the skin.
But instead of a stent, a small balloon is used to send ultrasound energy to the main blood vessel of the kidney.
The idea is to disturb the nerves in the kidney, as it’s believed that overactive kidney nerves contribute to high blood pressure.
Breakthrough in Blood Pressure Research
The technique was recently put to the test in a study involving 224 people struggling with uncontrolled high blood pressure.
The results were encouraging – the research showed that renal denervation, used on its own or along with medication, was successful in treating high blood pressure. S
o, it seems like this new method could offer an exciting alternative to traditional high blood pressure medication.
The Nitty-Gritty of Renal Denervation
But how does renal denervation work, exactly? A tiny, flexible tube, called a catheter, is used in the procedure. The catheter is inserted through a small cut in the wrist or groin and positioned in the artery leading to the kidney.
Then, ultrasound or radiofrequency energy is delivered to the tissue around the artery for a few seconds. This disrupts nerve activity, and consequently, blood pressure goes down.
Building on Past Findings and Looking Forward
This is not the first study to shine a light on the potential of renal denervation. Previous research had already indicated that the technique could bring down blood pressure in people with mild to moderate and resistant hypertension.
The new study goes further and provides more evidence that renal denervation can effectively reduce blood pressure in individuals with uncontrolled hypertension.
So, we might be seeing more renal denervation in the future as a minimally invasive alternative to hypertension medications.
High Blood Pressure: A Research Roundup
Alongside renal denervation, there’s plenty of ongoing research trying to uncover more ways to manage blood pressure.
For instance, one study points to the potential dangers of black licorice, while another looks at the blood pressure benefits of a common plant nutrient.
Plus, there’s promising research about a compound in turmeric that could be beneficial for blood pressure in people with diabetes.
And a study suggests that coconut sugar might help decrease blood pressure and hardening of arteries.
This valuable renal denervation study was led by Michel Azizi and his team, and the results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about how diets could help lower high blood pressure, and 3 grams of omega-3s a day keep high blood pressure at bay.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies that beetroot juice could help reduce blood pressure, and results showing cinnamon could help lower high blood pressure.
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