New care option available at Blessing Hospital for uncontrolled high blood pressure

QUINCY — People living with uncontrolled high blood pressure, known as resistant hypertension, have a new treatment option from Blessing Health.

Blessing Health’s Hypertension Clinic provides a comprehensive approach to care consisting of care coordination, dietitian consultation, advanced diagnostics, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring and, for select individuals, renal denervation. Renal denervation is a minimally invasive treatment that disables the nerves in the kidneys that help regulate blood pressure but are malfunctioning.

In a press release, nurse practitioner Taylor Welch says the procedure can lead to a “significant reduction” in blood pressure, as much as 8 to 18 points over time.

The Hypertension Clinic provider team consists of nephrologists Dr. Justo Gonzalez-Trapaga and Dr. Thejeswi Pujar, Welch and cardiologists Dr. Jeffrey Cook and Dr. Steven Krause.

Welch said, “Hypertension in general – and resistant hypertension in particular – is a silent killer.”

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to complications including heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. Welch says as many as 50 percent of Americans have high blood pressure – some diagnosed, some not.  Of those diagnosed, as many as 80 percent have high blood pressure that is not well controlled. 

The National Institutes of Health define resistant hypertension as blood pressure that remains above a reading of 140/90 despite the use of three blood pressure medications, including a diuretic. The NIH estimates 9 million Americans live with resistant hypertension

To qualify for care from the Hypertension Clinic, a person must have a blood pressure that remains above 140/90 despite being on three medications and receive a referral from their primary care provider to the Hypertension Clinic in the Blessing Health Nephrology Department in Quincy. People with questions should call Welch at 217-214-6260.