Hypertension Treatment

Overview

Treatment for hypertension at Massachusetts General Hospital is a specialized medical service for patients who have elevated blood pressure. Specialists evaluate newly diagnosed patients who have not yet been treated, patients who have already been diagnosed, but have trouble controlling their high blood pressure, and patients who have not tolerated traditional therapy. These patients may refer themselves to the service or be referred by their primary care physician or specialist.

Treatment for hypertension emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to blood pressure control. The treatment regimen might include anti-hypertensive drug therapy and lifestyle modifications such as exercise, weight loss, diet modification, smoking cessation and stress reduction. Many patients also have other conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, cardiac arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris or other disorders that might affect the treatment regimen. Specialists are able to treat these patients with individualized therapies that control blood pressure elevation without side effects or disrupting their lifestyles.

Our services also maintain a close relationship with the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine and use their program for stress management and relaxation response services that facilitate blood pressure control.

Research & Clinical Trials

Hypertension specialists are involved in numerous clinical research protocols for patients with high blood pressure, as well as high cholesterol, diabetes, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and atrial fibrillation. Patients benefit from our involvement in innovative research because they have access to the latest therapies and treatment information.

We are currently seeking participants for the following clinical trials:

• Are you a healthy participant interested in research?
• High Blood Pressure Study at MGH (MGH Charlestown Navy Yard)
• Radiance High Blood Pressure Study
• Seeking Healthy Volunteers for Study Investigating Salt in the Diet and Blood Pressure
• Understanding the link between magnesium and blood pressure