Refractory arterial hypertension is defined as arterial hypertension when it is not possible to reduce systolic blood pressure below 160 mm Hg. Statistics show that more and more people are suffering from this condition. Contributing factors include chronic kidney disease, diabetes and obesity. The disease very often leads to cardiovascular complications that are life-threatening for the patient.

At present, treatment of resistant hypertension consists of weight reduction, increased physical activity, reduced salt intake, regular medical visits but also pharmacological treatment (diuretics, synergists, alpha adrenergic drugs). Researchers are trying to develop a novel treatment for resistant hypertension that does not cause or significantly reduces side effects (headaches, hot flashes, swelling of the ankles, leg pain).

Researchers from Tohoku University, together with Katsunori Nonogaki, conducted an extensive study among patients affected not only by resistant hypertension but also by type 2 diabetes, using ultrasound at different frequencies (waves whose frequency is too high to be heard by humans). They have already found their way into medicine and, more specifically, dentistry.

Perhaps ultrasound will also find its way into cardiology. The researchers divided the patients into two groups: the first group received sound waves (800 kHz and the second group 500 kHz) into the forearm for 20 minutes, while the other group of patients, the so-called control group, received a placebo.

The publication, which appeared in the International Journal of Cardiology , shows that administering ultrasound to the forearm of patients does not lead to any side effects and, importantly, both frequencies (especially 500 kHz) led to a significant reduction in refractory arterial pressure. A hypothesis has been put forward that ultrasound has the ability to inhibit the activity of the synaptic system. Further research is ongoing but it is already known that ultrasound may be an aid in the treatment of resistant hypertension.