High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is one of the world’s most common health problems. It’s like blowing up a balloon too much—if the pressure gets too high, it can lead to serious damage. In the human body, that pressure can increase the risk of heart disease, strokes, and other life-threatening conditions.
For most people, doctors don’t know exactly what causes their high blood pressure, so they need to take medication every day for the rest of their lives just to keep it under control.
But a groundbreaking discovery from scientists in the UK may change that for some people. Doctors from Queen Mary University of London, Barts Hospital, and Cambridge University Hospital have found that, in certain cases, high blood pressure might actually be curable.
Using a new kind of CT scan, researchers found tiny, harmless lumps in one of the body’s hormone-producing glands—the adrenal gland. These small lumps, which can go unnoticed with regular scans, were found in about 1 out of every 20 people with high blood pressure.
In these cases, the lumps were producing too much of a hormone called aldosterone. This hormone causes the body to keep too much salt, which then pushes up blood pressure.
The most exciting part? In people where these lumps were found and removed, their blood pressure returned to normal—and they no longer needed medication. This is a huge breakthrough, especially for those who’ve been taking pills every day without ever knowing what was causing their condition.
This research, published in Nature Medicine, also solved a problem that has puzzled doctors for over 60 years—how to properly identify which patients have these hormone-producing lumps. In the past, a complicated and unreliable test was used, but it was hard to access and often didn’t give clear answers. Now, with this new method, the process is much easier and more accurate.
The researchers combined a special CT scan with a urine test. The scan uses a dye called metomidate, which sticks only to the lump making the aldosterone. For a few minutes, the lump lights up on the scan, allowing doctors to see exactly where the problem is. Then, if needed, the lump—and the gland it’s attached to—can be removed through surgery.
In the study, 128 patients with high blood pressure took part. All of them had high levels of aldosterone. In two-thirds of these patients, the scan clearly showed a lump that was responsible. After surgery, many were able to stop taking their medication completely and saw their blood pressure return to a healthy level.
Professor Morris Brown, who helped lead the study, explained that these lumps are very small and often missed during regular scans. But the new method makes them stand out clearly, solving the mystery. Professor William Drake, also involved in the research, praised the effort that went into the study, especially during the difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier work by the same research team showed that in about 5% to 10% of people with high blood pressure, the cause is a gene mutation in the adrenal gland. This mutation makes the gland produce too much aldosterone, leading to salt retention and raised blood pressure.
People with this type of high blood pressure are more likely to suffer heart attacks or strokes and don’t always respond well to standard treatments.
This discovery brings new hope for people with this specific form of hypertension. If doctors can find the root cause early using this scan, many patients might be able to stop taking lifelong medication and avoid serious health risks.
For anyone with high blood pressure, especially if their condition is hard to control, this study opens up a new possibility for real, lasting treatment.
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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