One in three Americans has hypertension, or high blood pressure.  Two out of 10 Americans may not know they have hypertension, because usually, there are no symptoms for hypertension. But whether you know you have it or not, uncontrolled hypertension increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke, as well as kidney disease and eye disease.

It is generally recommended that you have your blood pressure checked at least once per year, or more frequently if you already have a diagnosis of hypertension. It is easy for doctors to perform a non-invasive blood pressure test in the office to diagnose hypertension.  Your doctor will determine possible causes of hypertension, if they can be identified.

Then you can begin to get your blood pressure under control by making some lifestyle changes. But often one or more medications for treating hypertension are also necessary to keep your blood pressure in the normal range of below 120/80 mmHg.

In the future, if your blood pressure is difficult to control with three or more blood pressure medications, you may be a candidate for a new treatment pending approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration called renal denervation.

Lifestyle Changes for People with Hypertension

Modifying your lifestyle can help lower your risk for hypertension. Or if you already have hypertension, these lifestyle changes can help you manage your hypertension by keeping your blood pressure in a normal range (less than 120/80mmHg). Get started here.

Medications for Treating Hypertension

Fortunately, there are many medications available to help control blood pressure.  Different types of medications work on different parts of the body to lower blood pressure. As a result, controlling your blood pressure may require taking more than one type of medication. Learn more about them here.

An Innovative Treatment Option: Renal Denervation

Sometimes hypertension is difficult to control even when several medications are taken. If three or more medications are needed, and your blood pressure is still not under control, it is called resistant hypertension. About 30 percent of people with hypertension have resistant hypertension. People with resistant hypertension are at higher risk for stroke and heart attack. But the good news is there’s an exciting new treatment under investigation for resistant hypertension. Learn more about renal (kidney) denervation here.