What Kind of Doctor Treats HTN? from WebMD

[Guest guest]

Dr. Grim, thought you would enjoy today's post on WebMD. Do you want to answer

them or should I? (W/4 meds the answer is " Someone who knows how to test for

PA! " isn't it?) Here's the post:

.....

mmj1619 posted:

what would be the best kind of doctor to go to for high blood pressure? my

husband goes to his regular doctor and takes four kinds of medicine, but it

doesnt seem to do any good.

& #65532;

& #65532;

1 week ago

BillH99 responded:

That is a good question. In most cases high BP is idiopathic. That is no know

cause.

But in some cases it can be caused by hormone problems, kidney problems, and

other causes.

So a number of different type of doctors treat high BP.

Cardiologist, internal medicine, endocrinologist, and nephrologist.

Here is a director of members of the hypertension society.

http://www.ash-us.org/HTN-Specialist/HTN-Specialists-Directory.aspx

You might also contact a local medical school or teaching hospital and ask if

they have a hypertension clinic or some one that specializes in Resistant

Hypertension.

http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/combination-treatment-for-\

hypertension?page=2

What is resistant hypertension?Resistant hypertension means blood pressure that

stays high despite treatment with three different types of blood pressure

medications. It's thought that about 30% of people with high blood pressure have

resistant hypertension.

According to the American Heart Association, old age and obesity are two risk

factors for resistant hypertension. Other studies suggest that people with

resistant hypertension have associated risks factors such as diabetes,

obstructive sleep apnea, enlargement of the heart chambers, and or chronic

kidney disease.

In making a diagnosis, doctors have to decide if the person has true resistant

hypertension or if they may not be taking their medications correctly or not

adhering to treatment. These scenarios are not synonymous.

Sometimes " white coat " hypertension is mistaken for resistant hypertension. With

" white coat " hypertension, the patient may have a rise in blood pressure at the

doctor's office but not at home.

The doctor may recommend 24-hour blood pressure monitoring to exclude " white

coat " hypertension.

Patients with resistant hypertension often have many health problems. These

conditions may include diabetes, sleep apnea , kidney disease, and

atherosclerotic disease. These problems often make treatment difficult.

Along with using combination treatment, people with resistant hypertension may

need treatment for secondary causes of hypertension such as obstructive sleep

apnea . Also, stopping alcohol may help lower resistant hypertension.

[Guest guest]

Recommend you answer. I do no see any mention of Primary aldo. or the addition of DASH as a therapeutic modality.On Feb 16, 2012, at 1:13 PM, wrote: Dr. Grim, thought you would enjoy today's post on WebMD. Do you want to answer them or should I? (W/4 meds the answer is "Someone who knows how to test for PA!" isn't it?) Here's the post: .... mmj1619 posted: what would be the best kind of doctor to go to for high blood pressure? my husband goes to his regular doctor and takes four kinds of medicine, but it doesnt seem to do any good. & #65532; & #65532; 1 week ago BillH99 responded: That is a good question. In most cases high BP is idiopathic. That is no know cause. But in some cases it can be caused by hormone problems, kidney problems, and other causes. So a number of different type of doctors treat high BP. Cardiologist, internal medicine, endocrinologist, and nephrologist. Here is a director of members of the hypertension society. http://www.ash-us.org/HTN-Specialist/HTN-Specialists-Directory.aspx You might also contact a local medical school or teaching hospital and ask if they have a hypertension clinic or some one that specializes in Resistant Hypertension. http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/combination-treatment-for-hypertension?page=2 What is resistant hypertension?Resistant hypertension means blood pressure that stays high despite treatment with three different types of blood pressure medications. It's thought that about 30% of people with high blood pressure have resistant hypertension. According to the American Heart Association, old age and obesity are two risk factors for resistant hypertension. Other studies suggest that people with resistant hypertension have associated risks factors such as diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, enlargement of the heart chambers, and or chronic kidney disease. In making a diagnosis, doctors have to decide if the person has true resistant hypertension or if they may not be taking their medications correctly or not adhering to treatment. These scenarios are not synonymous. Sometimes "white coat" hypertension is mistaken for resistant hypertension. With "white coat" hypertension, the patient may have a rise in blood pressure at the doctor's office but not at home. The doctor may recommend 24-hour blood pressure monitoring to exclude "white coat" hypertension. Patients with resistant hypertension often have many health problems. These conditions may include diabetes, sleep apnea , kidney disease, and atherosclerotic disease. These problems often make treatment difficult. Along with using combination treatment, people with resistant hypertension may need treatment for secondary causes of hypertension such as obstructive sleep apnea . Also, stopping alcohol may help lower resistant hypertension.

[Guest guest]

Of course you don't see any mention of PA or DASH, they need to find Real Doctor first!

Here's the message I sent"

"I wouldn't be so worried about the "kind" as the knowledge! Find one who knows about "Hyperaldosteronism" (Conn's Syndrome). It was once thought to be very rare but is currently the cause in ~10% of people with HTN. (Most doctors still think it is rare and don't consider it but if it is the cause, it is cureable!) BTW conventional BP meds won't work because they work on renin and if you have it your renin will likely be low!It is recommended that anyone with resistant HTN on 3 or more BP meds be tested for this. For more information there is a Support Group, check it out at:hyperaldosteronism/ "

> > > Dr. Grim, thought you would enjoy today's post on WebMD. Do you want > > to answer them or should I? (W/4 meds the answer is "Someone who > > knows how to test for PA!" isn't it?) Here's the post:> > ....> >> > mmj1619 posted:> > what would be the best kind of doctor to go to for high blood > > pressure? my husband goes to his regular doctor and takes four kinds > > of medicine, but it doesnt seem to do any good.> >> >> > & #65532;> > & #65532;> >> > 1 week ago> > BillH99 responded:> > That is a good question. In most cases high BP is idiopathic. That > > is no know cause.> >> > But in some cases it can be caused by hormone problems, kidney > > problems, and other causes.> >> > So a number of different type of doctors treat high BP.> >> > Cardiologist, internal medicine, endocrinologist, and nephrologist.> >> > Here is a director of members of the hypertension society.> >> > http://www.ash-us.org/HTN-Specialist/HTN-Specialists-Directory.aspx> >> > You might also contact a local medical school or teaching hospital > > and ask if they have a hypertension clinic or some one that > > specializes in Resistant Hypertension.> >> > http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/combination-treatment-for-hypertension?page=2> >> > What is resistant hypertension?Resistant hypertension means blood > > pressure that stays high despite treatment with three different > > types of blood pressure medications. It's thought that about 30% of > > people with high blood pressure have resistant hypertension.> >> > According to the American Heart Association, old age and obesity are > > two risk factors for resistant hypertension. Other studies suggest > > that people with resistant hypertension have associated risks > > factors such as diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, enlargement of > > the heart chambers, and or chronic kidney disease.> >> > In making a diagnosis, doctors have to decide if the person has true > > resistant hypertension or if they may not be taking their > > medications correctly or not adhering to treatment. These scenarios > > are not synonymous.> > Sometimes "white coat" hypertension is mistaken for resistant > > hypertension. With "white coat" hypertension, the patient may have a > > rise in blood pressure at the doctor's office but not at home.> >> > The doctor may recommend 24-hour blood pressure monitoring to > > exclude "white coat" hypertension.> >> > Patients with resistant hypertension often have many health > > problems. These conditions may include diabetes, sleep apnea , > > kidney disease, and atherosclerotic disease. These problems often > > make treatment difficult.> >> > Along with using combination treatment, people with resistant > > hypertension may need treatment for secondary causes of hypertension > > such as obstructive sleep apnea . Also, stopping alcohol may help > > lower resistant hypertension.> >> >> >>