High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major health issue affecting millions of people in the United States. Despite medications and lifestyle changes, many patients still struggle with persistent hypertension—a condition where blood pressure remains high even with treatment.
A new study from the Yale School of Medicine has taken a closer look at why some patients have difficulty controlling their blood pressure and what can be done to improve care.
Understanding Persistent Hypertension
Persistent high blood pressure occurs when patients have multiple elevated blood pressure readings over time, even while receiving treatment. It can happen for different reasons:
- Treatment-resistant hypertension – When medication doesn’t work well due to an underlying health condition.
- Lack of diagnosis – Some people may have high blood pressure but don’t know it.
- Inadequate treatment – Some patients may not be on the right medication or dosage.
- Medication adherence issues – Patients may forget to take their medication or stop taking it due to side effects.
- Barriers to healthcare – Factors such as missed doctor’s appointments, financial struggles, or lack of access to care can make it harder for patients to manage their condition.
How Researchers Are Addressing the Problem
To improve blood pressure control, researchers at Yale developed a system called “taxonomy.” This system groups patients based on their specific challenges in managing hypertension and provides personalized interventions.
For example:
- If a patient struggles with affording medication, a social worker may help find financial assistance.
- If a patient has treatment-resistant hypertension, doctors may adjust medications or recommend additional tests.
- If a patient forgets to take medication, they may benefit from reminders or education about why it’s important.
Using Artificial Intelligence to Improve Care
To make this system more efficient, the researchers are working on machine learning and natural language processingtools that can analyze electronic health records (EHRs). These AI-driven tools could help doctors quickly identify patients who need targeted support and connect them with the right resources.
The team hopes to test this system at Yale New Haven Health System, starting with 40,000 hospital employees and their families. If successful, the approach could be expanded to other healthcare systems and even other chronic conditions like diabetes.
How to Manage High Blood Pressure
If you have high blood pressure, there are steps you can take to help control it:
- Maintain a healthy weight – Losing extra weight can lower blood pressure.
- Eat a healthy diet – Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting salt, processed foods, and sugary drinks.
- Exercise regularly – Activities like walking, swimming, or cycling can help lower blood pressure.
- Limit alcohol – Men should have no more than two drinks per day, and women should limit to one drink per day.
- Quit smoking – Smoking damages blood vessels and raises blood pressure.
- Take medications as prescribed – If lifestyle changes alone don’t work, doctors may recommend medications such as diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, or calcium channel blockers.
The Future of Hypertension Treatment
This research highlights the importance of personalized care in treating high blood pressure. Many people struggle with persistent hypertension for reasons beyond just medication resistance. By using AI-driven tools to identify and address these barriers, healthcare providers can offer better, more effective treatment.
The study, led by Yuan Lu et al., was published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. Researchers hope that this new system will lead to better blood pressure control and improved patient outcomes. If successful, it could change the way doctors manage high blood pressure and other chronic diseases.
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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