The kidneys control blood pressure. If blood cannot get to the kidneys, certain hormones get out of balance. The imbalance makes the blood pressure higher.
Blood flow can be disrupted by:
- Atherosclerosis —Plaque builds up and blocks blood flow.
- Fibromuscular dysplasia—Muscle and tissue thicken on the artery wall and harden into rings. The rings block blood flow.
- Renal artery stenosis —Kidney’s arteries become narrow.
- Structural problems—Some may be present at birth.
High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke , heart attack , and kidney failure .
Care involves lowering blood pressure. This will help lower stress on the kidneys. Care may involve:
- Quitting smoking, getting routine exercise, or eating better foods
- Medicines to lower blood pressure
Surgery such as:
- Percutaneous angioplasty—using a balloon or stent to open the artery
- Bypass—rebuilding a blood vessel by going around the block
- Remove one or both kidneys— nephrectomy
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https//www.niddk.nih.gov
Society for Vascular Surgery https://vascular.org
Health Canada https://www.canada.ca
The Kidney Foundation of Canada https://www.kidney.ca
Renal artery stenosis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115312/Renal-artery-stenosis . Updated September 8, 2017. Accessed June 12, 2018.
Renovascular conditions. Society for Vascular Surgery website. Available at https://vascular.org/patient-resources/vascular-conditions/renovascular-conditions. Accessed June 12, 2018.
Renovascular disease. Patient website. Available at https://patient.info/doctor/renovascular-disease. Updated March 11, 2016. Accessed June 1, 2016.
Renovascular hypertension. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/cardiovascular-disorders/hypertension/renovascular-hypertension. Updated February 2018. Accessed June 12, 2018.