Worldwide there are over 1 billion people with hypertension, and this number is expected to grow to 1.5 billion in a few years. Hypertension has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease, kidney disease, vascular disease and stroke.

The medical term for high blood pressure is “hypertension”—it is sometimes referred to as “the silent killer” because frequently people don’t even know they have it. High blood pressure can have no symptoms or warning signs and it generally develops over years. Hypertension is more common as people age. Your diet, including excessive alcohol intake and smoking, as well as being overweight, can contribute to the development of hypertension.

For some people, even with lifestyle changes and medications, it may be difficult to control high blood pressure; recently however, new technologies have been developed that seek to decrease the over-activity of the sympathetic nervous system to lower blood pressure. You may be eligible for a clinical trial at Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills that can help reduce your blood pressure and your need for medications.

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