My friend Joel, 1996+, medical history excellent, non smoker, history of low blood pressure, been on meds for 10 years, cooks very organically, works out, 155 lbs at 6 ft tall. no family history of heart disease. Lately high BP , doc tried many BP meds, cannot get bp down enough to do a stress test. 160/90 in the am before coffee and 120/70 at night. What other tests can be done if we cannot get the bp down. Cholesteral, kidney liver labs all within range. To me it suggests a blockage, do we have to wait for a heart attack/stroke before any tests can be done?

I refer pxs with severe or difficult to control hypertension to our renal clinic for diagnostic and therapeutic advice. A block to the kidney artery certainly is a consideration-his BP at night seems fine. Hormone problems (ie cortisol)might be a factor. HIV has only mildly been linked to hypertension so usually the cause is something else.KH