This Surgical Procedure Lowers Blood Pressure, Cardiologists Say-Should You Consider It?
If you're part of the nearly half of adults in the U.S. with hypertension (aka high blood pressure), your doctor has likely already told you why it's important to get your numbers down.
Need a refresher? When high blood pressure is left untreated, it increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure-all pretty serious health impacts considering it's a health condition that doesn't come with any symptoms. In fact, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, many people with high blood pressure don't even know they have it. That's why it's important to know your numbers. After all, if you don't know a problem exists, you won't know that you need to treat it.
When you're used to eating a certain way for decades, making changes to your diet can be challenging. But sticking with a heart-healthy diet like the DASH diet (specifically created to lower blood pressure) or Mediterranean diet can truly be powerful. In one study, people who followed the DASH diet experienced a significant reduction in blood pressure, an average of 6.7 mmHG. To put that into perspective, clinical studies show that even a 5 mmHG reduction lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure by 10%.
What if diet and lifestyle changes aren't enough to get your numbers where you want them to be? That's when prescription medications can play a role. There is also a surgical procedure that can help lower blood pressure, which is talked about less than these medications. Here, cardiologists explain it in full detail, sharing everything you need to know.
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The Surgical Procedure That Can Lower Blood Pressure, According to Cardiologists
The surgical procedure that can lower blood pressure is renal denervation. "Renal denervation is a minimally invasive procedure that helps lower blood pressure by targeting nerve signals that can contribute to hypertension," Dr. Sirisha Vadali, MD, a cardiologist and lipidologist, specializing in prevention, women's health and cardiometabolic medicine, tells Parade.
Dr. Maday D. Gonzalez, MD,an interventional cardiologist at Montefiore Einstein, explains that during the procedure, a doctor threads a catheter through the groin to the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys.
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"In patients with uncontrolled hypertension, there are hyperactive sympathetic nerves wrapped around these blood vessels that are the target of this procedure. The kidneys communicate with the body's ‘fight-or-flight' nervous system through these sympathetic nerves," Dr. Gonzalez says.
She explains that renal denervation uses radiofrequency or ultrasound waves to calm these nerves and disrupt the abnormal overactive feedback loop that contributes to uncontrolled high blood pressure. "The procedure is not a cure, but a method to help lower blood pressure over time."
Both cardiologists say that renal denervation is a minimally invasive surgery and is considered safe. But there are risks to be aware of. Dr. Vadali tells Parade that these risks include bleeding, bruising or irritation where the catheter is inserted, injury to the renal artery, infection, allergic reaction to contrast dye and, in rare cases, worsening kidney function. But she emphasizes that these risks are extremely rare.
Does getting renal denervation mean you wake up from surgery and no longer have high blood pressure? Not exactly. The surgery doesn't work like flipping a switch. According to scientific research, it takes between one and three months after the procedure for there to be a noticeable, measurable drop in blood pressure, with optimal results stabilizing between three and six months after the procedure.
On top of that, both cardiologists say that the procedure isn't meant to replace medications taken for high blood pressure or healthy habits. Instead, it's meant to complement them.
Who Is a Good Fit for Renal Denervation?
Not everyone with high blood pressure is a good fit for renal denervation. "It's designed for certain patients whose blood pressure remains elevated despite lifestyle changes and medication," Dr. Vadali says.
If you have advanced renal failure, kidney abnormalities, bleeding disorders or narrowing of the renal arteries, Dr. Gonzalez notes that this operation likely isn't a good fit for you.
However, if you have tried to get your blood pressure under control through diet and lifestyle changes as well as medication, or you can't tolerate the medications because of their side effects, both cardiologists say that you may be a candidate for renal denervation.
"For most people who are newly diagnosed with hypertension, lifestyle changes and medication remain the first line of treatment. Renal denervation is typically considered only after those approaches haven't provided adequate blood pressure control. The best candidates are determined on an individual basis after a thorough evaluation by a cardiovascular specialist," Dr. Vadali says.
The Importance of Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
While renal denervation is a safe and effective treatment for those who need it, both cardiologists emphasize that nothing can replace a heart-healthy diet and strong lifestyle habits. It's the first step anyone should take to lower blood pressure, followed by prescription medications, if needed. If those don't work, only then should renal denervation be considered.
"The goal isn't to replace medications entirely but to improve blood pressure control and potentially reduce overall medication burden in appropriately selected patients," Dr. Vadali says. "Renal denervation is an exciting advancement because it gives physicians another evidence-based option for patients whose blood pressure remains difficult to control. However, it works best as part of a broader strategy focused on long-term cardiovascular health and prevention."
It just goes to show that food truly is the best medicine of all, especially when it comes to your heart.
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Sources:
- High Blood Pressure Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- What Is High Blood Pressure? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
- Onwuzo, C., Olukorode, J.,O., Omokore, O. A., et al. (2023). DASH Diet: A Review of Its Scientifically Proven Hypertension Reduction and Health Benefits. Cureus. 15(9):e44692.
- What is the ideal blood pressure number? Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School.
- Types of Blood Pressure Medications. American Heart Association.
- Cluett, J. L., Blazek, O., Brown, A. L., et al. (2024). Renal Denervation for the Treatment of Hypertension: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.AHA Journals. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYP.0000000000000240.
- Dr. Sirisha Vadali, MD, cardiologist and lipidologist, specializing in prevention, women's health and cardiometabolic medicine.
- Dr. Maday D. Gonzalez, MD, interventional cardiologist at Montefiore Einstein.
- Renal Denervation for People With Hypertension. National Library of Medicine.
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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 10:50 AM.