USC chosen as blood pressure trial center
Posted February 10, 2010 at 9:58 pm in Blogs, CampusNow
USC is making medical headway right on campus with a new trial seeking to help those suffering from high blood pressure.
Patients with high blood pressure are advised to take necessary steps to decrease their unhealthy numbers. Many patients, however, exhaust the possibilities — which include prescription drugs, workout regimens, and alternative diet plans — and are still unable to decrease the high blood pressure that puts their health at risk.
Now, a groundbreaking trial at USC and other locations could help those who have exhausted their options and still can’t find relief.
The Rheos Baroreflex Hypertension Therapy System consists of a small electronic palate placed underneath the patient’s collarbone. Electric pulses are shot through wires connecting the collarbone to both the right and left carotid arteries igniting the body’s blood pressure control system, which then relays a message to the brain to reduce overall blood pressure.
According to Dr. Mitra Nadim, director of the Hypertension Center, initial results of the procedure have been positive, the Los Angeles Times reported.
In an early trial, patients’ blood pressure dropped on average from 189 to 160 in three months and from 189 to 150 in a year.
According to the LA Times, USC is seeking qualified individuals who suffer from drug resistant hypertension. An eligible patient with a blood pressure higher than 160 and is taking three prescribed medications may qualify for this pioneering procedure.
Also in the Daily Trojan:
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This article is tagged: high blood pressure, hypertension center, mitra nadim, rheos baroreflex hypertension therapy system
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