Jan 5

Resistant Hypertension: When Blood Pressure Medications Aren’t Enough

If you’re taking three or more blood pressure medications and your numbers are still high, this may not be “noncompliance.” It may be resistant hypertension.
What Is Resistant Hypertension?

Resistant hypertension is defined as:
  • Blood pressure above goal despite 3 medications. 
  • One medication must be a diuretic.   
  • Medications are taken as prescribed.


Commonly Missed Causes:
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Excess aldosterone (a hormone from adrenal glands)
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Certain OTC meds (NSAIDs, decongestants)
  • Weight-related hormone dysregulation


Why More Pills Isn’t Always the Answer

Without identifying the root cause, medications stack—but BP doesn’t fall.
This is where targeted testing and newer therapies can change outcomes.

Hope Beyond the Diagnosis

Resistant hypertension doesn’t mean failure—it means your body is asking for deeper evaluation.
Sources:
American Heart Association
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure/resistant-hypertension--high-blood-pressure-thats-hard-to-treat

Johns Hopkins
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/resistant-hypertension
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