Frequently asked questions

Around the world, high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) affects an estimated 1.28 billion adults.¹ It affects all genders, young and old, people who are fit, and people with health problems.

There are many factors that increase your risk of developing high blood pressure.² Some you can control, such as what you eat, how much you exercise, and whether you smoke. Some you can’t control, such as your family history, race/ethnicity, age, gender, and chronic conditions like diabetes and kidney disease.

Symptoms of high blood pressure (if they occur) can be mild or severe, including headaches, nosebleeds, and difficulty breathing.¹ Symptoms of severe high blood pressure include chest pain, headache with confusion and blurred vision, nausea and vomiting, and anxiety.¹

What makes high blood pressure dangerous is that it often has no warning signs — so you could have it and not know it.¹ If you have high blood pressure, your heart works harder, which can raise your risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and kidney failure.^2,3 These risks can be very serious — especially if your high blood pressure is left untreated.

As with any minimally invasive procedure, the Symplicity™ blood pressure procedure does have known risks. These risks should be considered in relation to the potential benefits of the procedure. Adverse events include, but are not limited to, bruising and pain.⁴

The procedure is done in a hospital. Some people go home the same day. Others stay overnight. Your doctor will decide what is right for you.

Every hospital has its own approach, but generally speaking, the procedure takes about an hour. This does not include the time it takes to prepare for or recover from the procedure.

After you are sedated, your doctor will make a small incision to insert a very thin tube (catheter) into the artery leading to the kidney. The doctor will then use this device to calm the excessive activity of the nerves near the kidney.⁵ The tube is then removed, leaving no device behind.

Yes. Continue taking all blood pressure (and other) medication as prescribed unless your doctor recommends a change.

Ask your doctors about lifestyle changes that are right for you.

After the procedure, at your doctor’s discretion, you will have a follow-up appointment with the doctor who performed it. Later, you will have a follow-up with the doctor who treats your high blood pressure.