Hypertension

High blood pressure increases a patient's risk of heart attack, stroke and other diseases. Most people with hypertension have no symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says nearly half of U.S. adults have hypertension, or high blood pressure, and only about 1 in 4 of those individuals has their hypertension under control. The World Health Organization (WHO) expects the epidemic of hypertension world-wide will exceed 1.56 billion people by 2025. Major efforts are underway to better control this primary risk factor through screenings, medication and invasive procedures such as renal denervation in severely uncontrolled patients.

Large study finds high rates of nonadherence to statin recommendations; women especially averse

Many patients who would clearly benefit by lowered LDL cholesterol levels are choosing to forgo first-time recommendations for statin regimens, according to a population-level study. 

Incoming 2023-2024 American College of Cardiology (ACC) president Hadley Wilson, MD, shares insights on how to create health equity through both ACC programs and hospital grassroots community outreach programs. He outlines four programs his heart hospital is piloting in its community in Charlotte, North Carolina.

How cardiologists can address health disparities in their communities

Incoming 2023-2024 American College of Cardiology president Hadley Wilson, MD, shared insights on how to create health equity through grassroots community outreach programs.

AHA President Michelle Albert explains what can be done to boost healthcare equity and diversity in cardiology.

AHA President Michelle Albert on addressing health equity issues in cardiology

American Heart Association President Michelle Albert, MD, talked to us about about how to address health inequities in cardiology departments.

Ajay J. Kirtane, MD, director of the cardiac catheterization laboratories and professor of medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, explains the current trial data on catheter renal denervation to treat drug-resistant hypertension at AHA 2022.

Where renal denervation stands for the treatment of drug-resistant hypertension

Ajay Kirtane, MD, director of the cardiac catheterization laboratories at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, explained the most recent clinical trial data on this topic. 

‘Revolutionary’ new CT scans identify the most common cause of high blood pressure

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is one the single most common causes of hypertension, but identifying patients with PA—and knowing which ones may benefit from a surgical treatment—can be quite challenging.

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Top 15 heart-healthy diets: DASH, Mediterranean come out on top

The list represents a collaboration between more than 30 nutritionists, doctors and epidemiologists. 

Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams (2017-2021) spoke at the opening session of the American Heart Association (AHA) 2022 Scientific Sessions last week and said cardiologists need to help end the COVID pandemic and tackle the even bigger epidemic of hypertension. He highlighted hypertension and called it a clear public health emergency, causing more than 670,000 U.S. deaths per year. #AHA22 #hypertension

Former surgeon general says cardiologists need to address hypertension and remaining COVID cases

Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams spoke at the AHA 2022 Scientific Sessions and asked cardiologists to help end the COVID pandemic and tackle the even bigger epidemic of hypertension.

The Medtronic Symplicity Spyral Renal Denervation system uses a catheter that curls in the renal artery to place radiofrequency electrodes against the vessel wall to ablate the nerves that control vasodilation, so the artery can be propped in the fully open position.

SPYRAL HTN-ON MED renal denervation study did not meet primary endpoint

The SPYRAL HTN-ON MED renal denervation trial failed to show that renal denervation was superior to sham control at improving ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM), but that might have been due to patient lifestyle changes during COVID-19.

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.