Medical Minute: New Procedure Offers Relief For High Blood Pressure, Without Unwanted Side Effects

Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, and many don't know it.

For some, lifestyle changes can help, while others may require medications — but many of these come with side effects.

A newly approved procedure offers an alternative without those unwanted side effects.

Bill Mason has lived with high blood pressure for more than 30 years, and nothing was helping. However, a new FDA-approved procedure helped him get back to doing what he loves.

“These are heirloom tomato plants,” Mason said.

Mason’s farm has been flourishing for 17 years.

“I am an organic grower. I specialize in heirloom tomatoes. I own the domain tomatogod.com,” he said.

Not only does he enjoy working outside, but he’s passionate about growing things.

“I love life and, you know, creating and growing things,” he said.

Despite living with hypertension for three decades and taking up to eight medications, Mason refused to let it slow him down.

“Then I had a blood pressure event that sent me to the ER,” Mason said.

For people like Mason who are medication-resistant or tired of the side effects, renal denervation is now an option.

“In people with high blood pressure, there's often a lot of nerve traffic between the brain and the kidney. The brain is telling the kidney to hold on to sodium, and the kidney is telling the brain to cause vasoconstriction. It’s like two teenagers going at it,” said a doctor familiar with the procedure.

Renal denervation works by modifying nerve transmission between the brain and the kidney.

“We put a catheter in through the femoral artery in the leg, go up to the kidney, and modify the nerves on both sides,” the doctor said.

Ultrasound is then used to disrupt the function of these nerves.

“Over time, the traffic slows down, and blood pressure comes down,” the doctor explained.

The procedure worked for Mason.

“I’m 73, still kicking it,” he said.

His blood pressure is lower, and he's back to working on his farm.