Renovascular hypertension medical therapy

Template:Renovascular hypertension Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It's easy! Click here to learn about editing.

Medical Therapy

High blood pressure caused by narrowing of the arteries that lead to the kidneys (renovascular hypertension) is often difficult to control.

Medications are needed to help control blood pressure. There are a variety of high blood pressure medications available.

• Everyone responds to medicine differently. Blood pressure should be checked frequently.
• Ask your doctor what blood pressure measurement is appropriate for you.
• Patients should take all medicines in the exact way their doctor prescribed them.

Co-morbidities like diabetes, heart disease, or hardening of the arteries should be treated as well.

Lifestyle changes are important:

• Heart-healthy diet.
• Regular exercise, at least 30 minutes a day .
• Quit smoking.
• Limiting alcohol intake: 1 drink a day for women, 2 a day for men.
• Limit sodium (salt) intake less than 1,500 mg per day. Check with your doctor about how much potassium you should be eating.
• Stress reduction.
• Stay at a healthy body weight. Find a weight-loss program to help you, if you need it.

Further treatment depends on what causes the narrowing of the kidney arteries.Your doctor may recommend a procedure called angioplasty with stenting.

These procedures may be an option if the patient have:

• Severe narrowing of the renal artery
• Blood pressure that cannot be controlled with medicines
• Kidneys that are not working well and are becoming worse.