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.

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.

Renal denervation linked to significant blood pressure reductions after 3 years

An updated look at patients treated with Medtronic's renal denervation system was presented at ACC.22 and simultaneously published in The Lancet

FDA announces recall of hypertension medications due to potential cancer risk

The voluntary recall includes quinapril HCl/hydrochlorothiazide tablets sold by Pfizer and authorized generics of that same medication. 

Hypertension patients benefit from new intervention focused on education, motivation and text messages

Improving the way we communicate with ED patients about their blood pressure could make a significant long-term impact on their health. 

4 new medications and technologies that could transform cardiology in 2022

The FDA has already approved one of the medications, with a decision on another expected by the end of April. 

Unreliable? 76% of world’s blood pressure monitors have not been validated

Researchers examined data on more than 3,400 BP devices used all over the world. A significant majority of them were never clinically validated for accuracy. 

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Too much Tylenol? Daily acetaminophen use may be bad for hypertension patients

Daily acetaminophen use was associated with a “significant increase” in daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Chinese herbal formula treats mild hypertension as well as prescription drug

Songling Xuemaikang capsules compare favorably with losartan, potentially providing specialists with a new treatment option. 

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'This is very exciting': New data on the link between diabetes and high blood pressure

An international research team thinks they've uncovered why so many hypertension patients also have diabetes. 

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