High blood pressure is an extremely common medical disorder with some studies showing up to thirty percent of the population being affected by this condition. Most cases of high blood pressure can be successfully treated with lifestyle changes and the addition of one or more prescription medications. In about ten percent of cases, high blood pressure fails to respond to treatment even after a variety of combinations of antihypertensive medications have been tried. In this case, the condition becomes known as resistant high blood pressure.
The reason resistant high blood pressure is important is that in some cases it can be caused by a condition known as primary hyperaldosteronism. This is a disorder that occurs when the adrenal gland located near the kidney produces too much of a hormone called aldosterone. When too much aldosterone is released by the adrenals, excessive amounts of sodium are retained by the body resulting in elevation in blood pressure, sometimes resulting in extremely high blood pressure. Because aldosterone also causes loss of potassium, people with hyperaldosteronism may have symptoms of muscle weakness, numbness, and excessive fatigue along with elevations in blood pressure.
How do you know if you have resistant high blood pressure? If your doctor has tried you on a variety of anti-hypertensive medications as well as a combination of medications without success, hyperaldosteronism should be ruled out. It should also be considered if you're experiencing extremely high blood pressure that isn't responding to treatment. If this applies to you, it's important to discuss this concern with your physician since some doctors don't consider this diagnosis. To rule out this condition as a cause of resistant high blood pressure, blood tests can be performed to determine levels of aldosterone and another hormone called renin.
Why is the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism so important? If you're affected by this condition, your risk of developing complications related to high blood pressure is higher than if you have the garden variety essential hypertension. Plus, this is a condition that can be easily corrected with the use of aldosterone blocking medications. Although this condition is not common, it's being recognized more and more as a cause of extremely high blood pressure and resistant hypertension.
Once you're placed on antihypertensive medications for treatment of high blood pressure, it's important to monitor your blood pressures regular to be sure you're not experiencing resistant high blood pressure. By having a home blood pressure monitor and writing down your blood pressures, you'll be aware of any extremely high blood pressure readings as well as how you're responding to therapy.
