High blood pressure caused by narrowing of the arteries that lead to the kidneys (renovascular hypertension) is often difficult to control.

Medications may be used to help control blood pressure. There are a variety of high blood pressure medications available. You and your doctor will decide which type is best for you.

• Everyone responds to medicine differently. Your blood pressure should be checked frequently. The amount and type of medicine you take may need to be changed from time to time.
• Everyone should keep their blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg. If you have diabetes or have had a stroke, your blood pressure should be below 130/80 mmHg. Ask your doctor what blood pressure is appropriate for you.
• Take all medicines in the exact way your doctor prescribed them.

Have your cholesterol checked and treated. If you have diabetes, heart disease, or hardening of the arteries somewhere else in your body, your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol should be lower than 100 mg/dL.

To help prevent hardening of the arteries, make the following lifestyle changes:

• Avoid fatty foods. Follow a healthy, low-fat diet. See Heart disease and diet.
• Check with your doctor about an exercise program.
• Do NOT drink more than 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks a day.
• Quit smoking. Smoking increases the risk of forming clots.

Further treatment depends on what causes the narrowing of the kidney arteries.

• Early death
• Hypertensive heart disease
• Heart attack
• Congestive heart failure
• Blood vessel damage
• Kidney damage
• Kidney failure
• Stroke
• Loss of vision

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you think you have high blood pressure.

Call your health care provider if you have renovascular hypertension and symptoms get worse or do not improve with treatment. Also call if new symptoms develop.