(HealthDay News) — For people with high blood pressure that medication can’t control, a new implantable device shows promise, researchers report.
The device, surgically placed just below the collarbone, sends a four- to six-volt electrical jolt to the carotid arteries. This is said to lower blood pressure through a process known as baroreflex activation therapy.
The device might help tackle a growing problem, said the lead author of the study, which was funded by CVRx Inc., the device’s maker.
“We are seeing more patients with resistant hypertension these days,” noted Dr. John D. Bisognano, who is a consultant for CVRx Inc. and a professor of medicine in the division of cardiology at the University of Rochester. “There are a lot of heavier people. There are a lot of diabetic people. We are also realizing that the available drug treatment can’t solve the problem for everybody.”
As he explained it, the pulses generated by the implant trick the body into thinking that blood pressure has spiked. In response, the body sends out regulators that cause blood pressure to fall.
The results of a new trial were presented in April at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology in New Orleans and are now being published in the July 27 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
The phase 3 trial included 265 patients whose systolic blood pressure (the top number in a reading) was high — an average of 179 mmHg, according to Bisognano. He said the patients were hypertensive despite taking up to three blood pressure medications.
Blood pressure readings higher than 140/90 mmHg increase the risk of heart and kidney disease, stroke and death, experts note.
In one group of patients the device was activated one month after implantation, while in another group activation of the device was delayed for six months.
The researchers looked at several factors over the course of the study. These included a reduction in systolic blood pressure at six and 12 months, the safety of the operation needed to implant the device, the safety of baroreflex activation therapy and the safety of the device itself.
(5 votes, average: 4.40 out of 5)
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Interesting. On the other hand… May be more research could be done to actually find the cause of high blood pressure, especially if so many people suffer from it. ‘Heavier’ people MUST try everything possible to lose weight. They don’t just need another ‘fix’ with a device. Is the blood pressure medication contributing to their weight gain? I know many people, especially women, who seem to have a problem controlling their weight once on medication. Is blood pressure medication contributing to diabetes? (I believe some do). Do people get diabetes before or after taking blood pressure medication? (Both my parents became diabetic a few years after being put on blood pressure medication. Despite genetic low cholesterol their cholesterol level rose dramatically and both became overweight despite trying to eat a more sensible diet.
May be more could be done if researchers actually start trying to find the cause of the problem and not just patching it up with medication and devices. Most people would be grateful if they could get their blood pressure under control without medication.
I guess that there are hundreds of researchers actually working on this so the hope is that reasons will be found. The drug companies will hope that it isn’t too simple as they will lose a lot of their income. Lets hope that there are no nasty side effects.