New procedure can now help lower blood pressure

Published: May 30, 2025 | Updated: June 2, 2025

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

If you are one of many who have been told they have high blood pressure (also called hypertension) or your blood pressure is creeping closer to a high reading, you’ve got options for treatment that you should discuss with your provider. There are three: lifestyle changes, medication and a new minimally invasive procedure that can be used after all else has failed.

Lifestyle changes

The first option is an easy one, and something everyone should do regardless of their blood pressure reading: Lower sodium (salt) in your diet. While this mineral is needed by your body, it’s not needed in the amounts that most Americans consume.

“We know that eating a lot of sodium can increase your blood pressure over time,” said Matthew J. Sousa, M.D., interventional cardiologist, Norton Heart & Vascular Institute. “Instead of using salt to flavor what you eat, look at different spices that can add some zest, and try sodium-free marinades on meat. Pay special attention to processed and packaged foods you purchase, as some have a great deal of sodium.

“While the guideline is 2,300 mg of sodium per day total, a better aim is 1,500 mg a day if you want to reduce blood pressure.”

While reducing sodium alone can help with blood pressure, a few other things also help, according to Dr. Sousa:

• Exercise regularly: Aerobic exercise and strength training have been shown to lower blood pressure.
• Lose weight: When your weight increases, so does your blood pressure. A larger waistline also increases your risk for high blood pressure.
• Quit smoking: Smoking raises blood pressure.
• Limit alcohol: Alcohol can raise blood pressure, so it’s best to quit drinking. If you do consume alcohol, set your limit to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.

“Making these lifestyle changes can really lower your blood pressure, and you may not need to do anything else,” Dr. Sousa said.

Adding medication

If diet, exercise and weight changes do not improve your blood pressure, your provider may recommend medications.

“Different medications are available to help by reducing extra water and sodium in your system, lowering your heart rate, or relaxing or opening blood vessels,” Dr. Sousa said. “Your provider will look at your age, blood pressure reading and other health indicators to determine what type of medication may work best.

“It may take trying different medications to determine what works best in your body, but they can work quickly and effectively to lower blood pressure.”

Renal denervation procedure

Some people continue to have high blood pressure despite using medications and making lifestyle changes.

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute now has a new option called renal denervation, which calms overactive nerves near the kidneys that can cause high blood pressure.

“We take a very thin tube into the artery that goes to the kidney and send electrical pulses to calm those nerves,” Dr. Sousa said. “It’s a simple, minimally invasive procedure that only requires minimal sedation, and the patient can usually go home the same day.” Norton Heart & Vascular Institute is the first in Kentucky and Southern Indiana to offer the Symplicity Spyral renal denervation (RDN) system.