“In seniors, the blockage is often caused by cholesterol deposits, much like those that can settle in the arteries of the heart, legs, or neck. Conversely, in the younger population, the high blood pressure is related to a blockage due to an arterial disease known as fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD),” says Vinay Kumar, MD, endovascular surgeon at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel. “People with this problem may need several types of medication to keep their blood pressure under control.”

Do you have high blood pressure? It may be linked to your kidneys if:

• it comes on suddenly in the elderly or young population
• you use more than three medications to control your blood pressure
• your kidney functions are growing worse
• you retain fluid often or have congestive heart failure.

Jerry Howell had a problem with high blood pressure and was trying to control it with medication. “One day while working out at the Wellness Center my blood pressure rose to an alarming 220/120—that’s stroke territory,” states Howell. “I had tests run and Dr. Kumar found a blocked main artery in my kidney. He went in and placed a stent in the artery. I stayed over night and went home the next day. One week later my blood pressure was back to normal. It’s been one and a half years since the procedure and my blood pressure is still under control. I went from taking eight medications to one, and I am back to doing all the things I love to do. I thank Dr. Kumar for taking care of me. I’ve got my life back to normal.”