Patrick’s story: Flipping the script on high blood pressure

After years of uncontrolled hypertension, he found a different treatment — and a new outlook on the future.

For Patrick, high blood pressure has been part of his life since just before college, when he developed consistently elevated blood pressure readings. In shock and disbelief, he found himself facing a condition he never expected at such a young age. Medication became part of his routine, but years later, his high blood pressure remained difficult to control.

Then, during a wellness event with friends, Patrick got a reading that made the seriousness of his hypertension impossible to ignore: 155/95. Seeing that number alongside his friends’ readings brought what had been a personal health concern into sharper focus. “It’s one thing if you have high blood pressure, and it’s just you and your doctor,” Patrick says. “It’s a different situation when you’re the one on the leaderboard.”

When medication was no longer providing the control he needed, Patrick learned about renal denervation for hypertension, a procedure that can treat some patients with uncontrolled hypertension. His doctor explained the minimally invasive Symplicity™ blood pressure procedure, and Patrick decided to move forward with it.

Patrick says the experience has changed more than his approach to managing his blood pressure. It has changed his outlook. At one point, he found himself wondering whether he would live to see his 70s. Now, at 58, he says he is “looking down the road farther” — with plenty still on his bucket list.

That shift is especially meaningful for someone who loves being outdoors. Patrick enjoys mountain biking, hiking, traveling, and exploring nature — activities that help him stay present and in the moment. With his blood pressure now under control, he says he feels relief.

“I went from having no options to suddenly, like, flipping the script around,” Patrick says.

Read more

Is high blood pressure holding you back? See if the Symplicity™ procedure may be right for you.

Want to hear more stories like Patrick’s?

Explore the Open Book series on YouTube, where patients share candid, personal perspectives on their health journeys, treatment, and what it means to move forward.

Important Safety Information: The most frequently reported side effects include headache, and back pain. Some people experienced bruising or a firm area under the skin (known as a hematoma) at the site where the catheter is inserted to provide therapy. In very rare instances, blood vessel injury or narrowing of the blood vessel may occur.  For full safety information click here.

Published on August 25, 2026