According to Wikipedia ….

Hypertension, most commonly referred to as “high blood pressure”, HTN or HPN, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated

Hypertension can be classified as either essential (primary) or secondary. Essential hypertension indicates that no specific medical cause can be found to explain a patient’s condition. Secondary hypertension indicates that the high blood pressure is a result of (i.e. secondary to) another condition, such as kidney disease or certain tumors (especially of the adrenal gland). Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysm, and is a leading cause of chronic renal failure. Even moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure leads to shortened life expectancy. At severely high pressures, defined as mean arterial pressures 50% or more above average, a person can expect to live no more than a few years unless appropriately treated.

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis treatment and received some good news today!  Because Irene’s blood pressure is coming down, Dr. Kumar, her kidney specialist, is reducing her blood pressure medication from two prescriptions down to one.  Yay!

After going to Starbucks on the way home for her classic tall, soy green tea latte, no water or melon, and four scoops of tea, she worked leisurely in the Wisteria Garden, enjoying the sunny day on the bay.

Irene is very grateful for the calls, cards, emails and other expressions of concern for her along her journey of faith.  She looks forward to prayerfully supporting others who share their journey of faith in the newly created “discussion forum”.

We are anticipating a report later this week which will indicate the degree of amyloid remaining (or not remaining) in Irene’s bloodstream.  We also hope to learn the level of her current kidney function.  Stay tuned ….

We’re grateful that Irene’s hypertension is moving in the right direction, that her blood pressure medication is being reduced and hope that the trend continues.

Caminando con Fé

Dave