A New Approach to High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is one of the most common risk factors for heart disease and stroke, but for some people, getting it under control is anything but simple.

The Hypertension Clinic at Arkansas Heart Hospital provides specialized evaluation and treatment for patients whose blood pressure remains high despite medication and lifestyle changes. Our cardiovascular specialists look beyond the numbers to understand what may be driving your high blood pressure and develop a treatment plan built around you.

From optimizing medications and identifying contributing health conditions to advanced treatment options like renal denervation, our goal is to help you achieve better, more consistent blood pressure control.

Request an Appointment: (501) 978-8633

When High Blood Pressure Is Hard to Control

Blood pressure can remain elevated for many reasons. Sometimes medications need to be adjusted. Other times, an underlying medical condition, another medication or a combination of factors may be contributing.

Our Hypertension Clinic is designed for patients who:

• Continue to have high blood pressure despite treatment
• Take multiple blood pressure medications but are not reaching their target
• Have difficulty tolerating blood pressure medications or their side effects
• Experience significant fluctuations in blood pressure
• Have cardiovascular or other health conditions that make blood pressure control especially important
• Want to learn whether newer treatment options may be appropriate

A specialized evaluation can help determine what is contributing to your hypertension and which treatment approach may offer the greatest benefit.

Comprehensive Hypertension Care

There is no single approach that works for everyone. Your care may include:

• Advanced blood pressure evaluation: We review your blood pressure history, current treatment and overall cardiovascular health to better understand why your blood pressure may be difficult to control.
• Medication review and management: Our team evaluates your current medications, how they work together and whether changes could help improve blood pressure control.
• Evaluation for contributing conditions: Certain medical conditions, medications and other factors can contribute to persistent high blood pressure. Identifying them can be an important part of developing an effective treatment strategy.
• Lifestyle and risk-factor management: Nutrition, physical activity, weight, sleep, stress and other factors can influence blood pressure. We help connect these pieces as part of your overall treatment plan.
• Advanced treatment options: For appropriate patients whose blood pressure remains uncontrolled, we offer innovative treatments including the Medtronic Symplicity™ blood pressure procedure.

An Innovative Option for Uncontrolled Hypertension: The Medtronic Symplicity™ Blood Pressure Procedure

For some patients, high blood pressure remains difficult to control even with medication and healthy lifestyle changes. The Symplicity blood pressure procedure offers another way to address one of the mechanisms that can contribute to hypertension.

Symplicity is an FDA-approved, minimally invasive procedure called renal denervation. It targets overactive nerves surrounding the arteries that lead to the kidneys. These nerves are part of the body’s sympathetic nervous system and can play a role in regulating blood pressure.

During the procedure, a physician guides a thin catheter through an artery to the arteries supplying the kidneys. The system delivers radiofrequency energy to help reduce excessive nerve activity that can contribute to high blood pressure.

The procedure does not involve an implant and is typically performed once as a catheter-based procedure.

Is Symplicity Right for Me?

Symplicity is not the right treatment for every patient with hypertension. It is FDA approved as an additional treatment option for patients whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled with lifestyle changes and antihypertensive medications.

Determining whether renal denervation is appropriate requires a thorough evaluation. Our team will review your blood pressure, medications, health history and other factors before recommending treatment.

Even if you are not a candidate for Symplicity, an evaluation through the Hypertension Clinic may identify other ways to improve your blood pressure management.

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Why Blood Pressure Control Matters

High blood pressure can quietly damage blood vessels and organs over time, often without causing noticeable symptoms. When it remains uncontrolled, it can increase the risk of serious health problems including heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. That’s why treating hypertension is about more than improving a number on the blood pressure cuff. It is an important part of protecting your heart and your long-term health.

Our Hypertension Clinic brings that cardiovascular expertise to one of the most important and often challenging risk factors for heart disease. Whether you need a closer look at your current treatment or want to explore advanced options such as renal denervation, our team can help determine the next step.If your blood pressure remains high despite treatment, ask your physician about the Arkansas Heart Hospital Hypertension Clinic or contact us to schedule an evaluation.

Request an Appointment: (501) 978-8633