If you or someone you know has struggled with high blood pressure, there’s good news. Researchers have made a big discovery that could be a game-changer for treating this widespread health issue.
The Hidden Danger of High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is called the “silent killer” for a reason.
It often shows no symptoms but can be quietly causing damage to your heart, kidneys, and blood vessels.
Doctors commonly prescribe lifestyle changes like eating less salt and exercising, as well as medications to control high blood pressure.
But for some people, these treatments just don’t do the trick. What if there was a better way to get to the root of the problem? That’s where the new “super scan” comes into play.
The Super Scan: Lighting Up the Culprit
A team of scientists from Queen Mary University of London and other institutions have developed a new type of body scan that could revolutionize the treatment of high blood pressure.
This scan identifies tiny lumps, called nodules, in hormone glands that can cause high blood pressure.
These nodules produce a hormone called aldosterone, which can raise your blood pressure.
They’re actually pretty common, found in 1 in 20 people who have high blood pressure. The problem was that these nodules were hard to detect with traditional tests.
The super scan changes all of that. It uses a special dye that only sticks to these problematic nodules. When the dye lights up, the nodule becomes easy to see on the scan.
What’s amazing is that this scan is quick, painless, and, most importantly, effective every time. During a study, the scan helped identify nodules in two-thirds of the participants with high aldosterone levels.
A Path to Treatment: Beyond Pills
But spotting these nodules is only half the battle. The real win comes in treatment. Once these nodules are found, they can be safely removed.
This could mean that some people with high blood pressure might not need to take medications for the rest of their lives.
In fact, combined with a simple urine test, this scan could even predict who could completely stop taking blood pressure medicines after treatment.
This is a big deal. Until this point, most people with these hormone-producing nodules went undiagnosed because existing tests were either too complicated or simply not available.
But this super scan could be a game-changer. Out of 24 patients who achieved normal blood pressure levels after treatment, 18 were correctly identified by the scan and urine test as candidates for being medication-free.
What’s Next?
The study, led by Professor Morris Brown, has been published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, promising a brighter future for those struggling with high blood pressure.
While this breakthrough is incredibly promising, always consult your doctor before making any changes to your current treatment plan.
This new scan could become a vital tool in the fight against high blood pressure, offering hope and more targeted treatment for those who haven’t found relief through traditional methods.
As we await wider availability of this innovative technology, it’s a step closer to a world where high blood pressure can be effectively treated, or even cured, bringing peace of mind to millions.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about Common high blood pressure drugs may cause memory problems and findings of A common blood pressure medication could help you live longer.
For more information about blood pressure health, please see recent studies about Common headache medicine may strongly reduce blood pressure and results about Coffee vs. green tea: Which is better for your blood pressure?
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
