Different Journeys, One Goal: Going Beyond Medication for High Blood Pressure Control
(NewsUSA)
- This World Heart Day, there’s an important number everyone should know: their blood pressure measurement. High blood pressure (or hypertension) is one of the most common health issues in the United States,1 with approximately 50% of adults - roughly 120 million - living with the condition.2,3 If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can lead to significantly increased health risks including heart attack and stroke. 4,5
However, high blood pressure is often called “the silent killer” with no noticeable symptoms – many people may not realize their blood pressure is too high. For people diagnosed with hypertension, lifestyle changes and medications are the first steps toward gaining better control. But managing the condition can be challenging, and medications aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. In fact, up to 50% of patients become non-adherent to their medications within one year, and nearly 75% of adults with high blood pressure do not have it under control.6,7
The good news is that additional treatment options are available, including the Symplicity™ blood pressure procedure. This minimally invasive procedure works in tandem with lifestyle management and medication which may help patients achieve blood pressure control, and also could reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.8,9,10 The procedure works by calming excessively active nerves near the kidneys that may be contributing to high blood pressure.11 The procedure doesn’t require any implant and once done, the effects keep working 24 hours a day.8, 9, 12While some patients may be able to reduce the number of antihypertensive medications they take, medication may need to be adjusted overtime by a healthcare team. Symplicity may have side effects including headache, back pain, access site complications like bruising or hematoma, and in very rare cases, blood vessel injury or narrowing.
More than 40,000 adults worldwide have received the Symplicity blood pressure procedure.13 In recognition of World Heart Day, we are highlighting the journeys of three individuals who took a new direction in managing their high blood pressure.
Focusing on What Matters Most
Yazmin Rodriguez, a South Jersey mother of five and grandmother of one, always strives to put her family first. But years of uncontrolled high blood pressure made that increasingly difficult, leaving her with frequent migraines and low energy despite taking multiple antihypertensive medications and making lifestyle changes.
This changed in 2024 when Dr. Kintur Sanghvi,* interventional cardiologist at Virtua Health, introduced her to a different approach: the Symplicity blood pressure procedure. After talking to Dr. Sanghvi about the risks of the procedure - Yazmin decided to undergo the procedure. Today, she has gained more control of her blood pressure and is now able to keep up with what matters most to her: her family.
“For patients like Yazmin who have tried medications and lifestyle changes but continue to struggle with uncontrolled high blood pressure, renal denervation offers not only an adjunctive treatment option, but a renewed sense of hope for patients,” said Dr. Sanghvi. “While results for patients may vary, seeing Yazmin have better control of her blood pressure and, with it, more control over her life is a powerful reminder of why we offer this procedure to patients.”
Taking on New Adventures
Patrick Whitehouse, a 59-year-old from Sacramento, California, has always led an active lifestyle. Whether skiing, mountain biking, traveling with friends, or spending time outdoors, staying active has always been an important part of his life. But as his uncontrolled high blood pressure began to interfere with the activities he loved, Patrick searched for another option. The Symplicity blood pressure procedure, alongside lifestyle changes and medication, helped him return to the activities he enjoys most - including riding the iconic Denali Park Road in Alaska. This was a meaningful milestone in Patrick’s return to an active, adventurous life.
Finding a New Path Forward
Todd "Lumpy" Kocsis, of Gibsonburg, Ohio has lived with uncontrolled high blood pressure since he was just 18 years old. Now 54, and despite decades of treatment, multiple medications, and significant weight loss, his blood pressure continued to worsen, leading to frequent trips to the emergency room. Feeling defeated and out of options, Lumpy learned about the Symplicity blood pressure procedure through his physician, Doctor Gbur at Fulton County Health Center.* Today, he works full-time and stays active caring for his horses, scuba diving, and exercising - activities that were once much more difficult while living with high blood pressure.
If you’re living with uncontrolled high blood pressure, understanding your treatment options can be an important step toward reclaiming your health.
To learn more about renal denervation and view additional important safety and risk information, visit beyondHBP.com.
*In the past, this physician has been paid for participation in speaking events by Medtronic.
These testimonials reflect the individual experiences and opinions of the patients featured. Not every person will experience the same results.
The Symplicity Spyral renal denervation system is indicated to reduce blood pressure as an adjunctive treatment in patients with hypertension for whom lifestyle modifications and antihypertensive medications do not adequately control blood pressure. People with higher blood pressure before the procedure may see greater reductions in blood pressure and a decrease in the need for blood pressure medication following the procedure.
The Symplicity procedure has known risks that should be considered in relation to the potential benefits of the procedure. Potential procedure-related adverse events including pain, vascular access site complications, and vasospasm are most common.
1. American Heart Association. The Facts About High Blood Pressure. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure. Update May 23, 2024. Accessed on Oct 16, 2024.
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General; 2020.
3. High Blood Pressure Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/data-research/facts-stats/index.html Accessed August 21, 2026.
4. Jones DW, et al. 2025 AHA/ACC/AANP/AAPA/ABC/ACCP/ACPM/AGS/AMA/ASPC/NMA/PCNA/SGIM Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2025 Nov 4;86(18):1567-1678.
5. High blood pressure dangers: Hypertension’s effects on your body. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/highblood-pressure/in-depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20045868. Accessed August 21, 2026.
6. Berra E, et al. Hypertension. 2016 Aug;68(2):297-306.
7. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension Accessed August 21, 2026.
8. Böhm M, Kario K, Kandzari DE, et al. Efficacy of catheter-based renal denervation in the absence of antihypertensive medications (SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED Pivotal): a multicentre, randomised, shamcontrolled trial. Lancet. 2020;395(10234):1444–1451.
9. Kandzari D, Townsend R, Kario K, et al. Safety and Efficacy of Renal Denervation in Patients Taking Antihypertensive Medications. J Am Coll Cardiol. November 7, 2023;82(19):1809–1823.
10. Ettehad D, Emdin CA, Kiran A, et al. Blood pressure lowering for prevention of cardiovascular disease and death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. March 5, 2016;387(10022):957-967.
11. Coates P, Tunev S, Trudel J, Hettrick DA. Time, Temperature, Power, and Impedance Considerations for Radiofrequency Catheter Renal Denervation. Cardiovasc Revasc Med. September 2022;42:171–177.
12. Medtronic Symplicity Spyral multi-electrode renal denervation catheter Instructions for Use.
13. Medtronic data on file, RDN Catheter Historical Data, September 2026. Data includes both Symplicity Flex and Symplicity Spyral
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Important Safety Information
The Symplicity™ blood pressure procedure (BPP) is a minimally invasive procedure approved to help lower high blood pressure. The procedure is approved as a complement to treatments you may already be trying, such as lifestyle modifications and high blood pressure medications that might not be adequately controlling your blood pressure.
Receiving the Symplicity BPP should be based on a joint decision between you and your doctor. Consider the benefits and risks of the device and procedure. Please talk to your doctor to decide whether or not the Symplicity BPP is right for you.
If you have a pacemaker or an ICD, your doctor will follow up with steps to take ahead of the procedure if you decide it is right for you.
At the time of your procedure, your doctor may detect certain anatomical conditions (e.g., your blood vessels are too big or too small) that do not allow the blood pressure procedure to continue.
You should not receive the procedure if you cannot tolerate medications that are required for the procedure, like atropine, nitroglycerin, systemic blood thinners, or certain pain medications. These medications are to help you in case your heart rate drops too low, you experience pain, or your blood vessels tighten during the procedure. You should not receive the procedure if you are pregnant.
The Symplicity BPP has not been studied in patients: • Who are breastfeeding • Who are under 18 years old • Who have isolated systolic hypertension (only the “top number” of your blood pressure is high) • Who have secondary causes of high blood pressure • Who have had a renal stent placed less than 3 months prior to the procedure • Who had a prior minimally invasive treatment in their renal arteries (stenting, angioplasty, or prior renal denervation)
Potential risks of the Symplicity BPP (note that you may experience other problems that have not been previously observed with this procedure): • Allergic reaction to the imaging solution • Damage to your arteries • Future narrowing of your arteries • Arterio-enteric fistula (an abnormal connection between your aorta and your gastrointestinal tract) • AV fistula (an irregular connection between an artery and a vein) • Bleeding or blood clots • Bruising where the device enters your body (mild or severe) • Cardiac arrest or heart attack • Death • Deep vein thrombosis • Swelling • Slow heart rate • Infection • Low or high blood pressure • Damage to your kidneys that may cause one or both to stop working • Nausea or vomiting • Peripheral ischemia (lack of blood supply to your limbs) • Pulmonary embolism (a sudden block in your arteries that send blood to your lungs) • Pseudoaneurysm (blood collecting on the outside of a vessel wall causing a balloon-like widening) • Pain or discomfort • Skin burns from the failure of the equipment during the procedure • Exposure to radiation • Stroke
For further information, please call and/or consult Medtronic at 800-633-8766 or the Medtronic website at medtronic.com.
