What is renal artery stenosis?
- Posted on: Jul 15 2020
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When patients of Altamonte Springs, FL are experiencing atherosclerosis, they may be dealing with narrowing and hardening of blood vessel walls that can significantly impact the blood vessels of the heart or other parts of the body. When this happens, patients will need to be evaluated by a professional to determine the cause and offer effective treatment options. At the Orlando Heart and Vascular Institute, we often find that patients with arthrosclerosis may experience renal artery stenosis, which is a narrowing in the diameter of the renal arteries. This blood flow restriction can lead to a variety of issues including renal failure due to impaired kidney function.
Understanding atherosclerosis
Patients who are at risk of this condition are those:
- Increasing in age
- Who smoke cigarettes
- With diabetes
- With high blood pressure
- With high cholesterol levels
- Fibromuscular dysplasia
- Arteritis
- Dissection
The majority of renal artery stenosis cases are caused by atherosclerosis.
How common is this condition?
This condition is often seen in patients over the age of 50, though in younger patients, it is often caused by fibromuscular dysplasia and is more common in women than men.
Symptoms of renal artery stenosis
- High blood pressure not controlled with usual treatments
- Severe high blood pressure levels that develop before the age of 30
- One kidney smaller than the other
How is renal artery stenosis treated?
Once the condition has been diagnosed, patients are advised to speak to their doctor about their treatment options. In some instances, no treatment is necessary as it may not cause any other disfunction or problems for the patient. Periodic monitoring may be advised at this time. However, if patients do have the condition, it may be treated by addressing the associated high blood pressure levels. This is done with medications as a conservative first line of treatment.
Request a visit with the team at Orlando Heart and Vascular Institute
Call (407) 767-8554 today to request an appointment with our team of doctors at the Orlando Heart and Vascular Institute in Altamonte Springs, FL. We are committed to providing patients with a wide range of diagnostic and treatment options for their unique conditions, and are conveniently located for new and current patients at 450 West Central Parkway.
Posted in: Renal Artery Intervention
