High blood pressure is becoming more common all over the world, and for many people, it’s hard to manage.
Even with healthy eating, regular exercise, and medicine, some people still have blood pressure that stays too high. This puts them at higher risk for serious health problems like heart disease, kidney damage, and stroke.
Now, a new study published in the medical journal JAMA introduces a promising new treatment. It’s a simple medical procedure that works under the skin—similar to how doctors use a tiny tube called a stent to open blocked blood vessels. This treatment is designed for people whose high blood pressure does not respond well to medicine.
The new method is called renal denervation, or RDN. It uses sound energy to target nerves linked to the main blood vessels that supply the kidneys. These nerves play a role in controlling blood pressure. By calming them down, RDN helps reduce blood pressure. The treatment can be used alone or alongside medication.
RDN is minimally invasive. That means it doesn’t involve big cuts or surgery. A doctor inserts a small tube, called a catheter, through a tiny opening in the wrist or groin. The catheter is gently guided to the arteries that go to the kidneys.
Once it’s in place, the device sends sound energy or radio waves into the nearby nerve tissue. This weakens the nerves, which helps lower blood pressure. After both kidneys are treated, the catheter is removed.
A large study called the Radiance II trial tested this treatment on 224 people whose blood pressure was not under control. The study showed that their blood pressure dropped and stayed lower for at least two months after the procedure.
Dr. Stephen Jenkins from Ochsner Health, one of the researchers, said this gives hope to people who struggle to keep their blood pressure at a safe level.
Previous research had already shown that RDN could help people with different types of high blood pressure, including mild, moderate, and resistant cases. The new study confirms that RDN also works well for people who have trouble controlling their blood pressure even with medications.
In fact, three related studies, which included data from over 500 patients, were also published in JAMA Cardiology. They all showed similar results—RDN helped lower blood pressure in a variety of patients.
For people who are trying to manage their blood pressure, there are other helpful steps to try as well. Research suggests that drinking tea, avoiding added sugar, eating within a set time each day, and getting enough vitamin D can also help. These tips may be especially useful for people with diabetes.
The RDN procedure adds another valuable option for those who haven’t had success with other treatments. It offers new hope for better blood pressure control and a lower risk of serious health problems in the future.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about why checking blood pressure while lying down is very important and lowering top blood pressure number to less than 120 mm Hg effectively prevents heart disease.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies that turmeric and vitamin D may boost blood pressure control in type 2 diabetes and scientists find link between blood pressure drugs and bowel diseases.
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