📅 February 10, 2025
✍️ By Kids Science Magazine , Based on Source
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious health problem that affects millions of people around the world. It can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease if left untreated. Most people think high blood pressure is caused by eating too much salt, being overweight, or feeling stressed all the time. But did you know that for some people, the real problem is a hormone imbalance?
Scientists have just discovered an exciting new way to cure a common hidden cause of high blood pressure quickly and safely—without major surgery! It’s called Targeted Thermal Therapy (Triple T), and it could change the way we treat high blood pressure forever.
Let’s dive into this incredible medical breakthrough!
A Sneaky Cause of High Blood Pressure
About 1 in 3 adults worldwide has high blood pressure. But what many people don’t know is that for some of them, the problem isn’t just about diet or lifestyle. A hidden condition called Primary Aldosteronism (say it like this: al-DOSS-ter-own-ism) is often the real reason.
This condition happens when tiny benign (non-cancerous) lumps called nodules grow on the adrenal glands. These small glands sit on top of the kidneys and are responsible for making hormones that control things like blood pressure and salt levels in the body.
When a person has Primary Aldosteronism, these adrenal nodules produce too much of a hormone called aldosterone. Aldosterone tells the body to hold on to extra salt, which causes blood pressure to go up.
The tricky part? Most people with this condition don’t even know they have it! Doctors estimate that 1 in 20 people with high blood pressure actually has Primary Aldosteronism, but fewer than 1% are ever diagnosed! That means millions of people are suffering from a treatable condition without even realizing it.
A Faster, Safer Cure: Triple T to the Rescue!
Before this new discovery, the only way to cure Primary Aldosteronism was to remove an entire adrenal gland through major surgery. This surgery required general anesthesia, a 2–3 day hospital stay, and weeks of recovery. Because of this, many people never got the treatment they needed.
Now, scientists at Queen Mary University of London, Barts Health NHS Trust, and University College London have developed Triple T, a minimally invasive procedure that can destroy only the harmful nodule while leaving the rest of the adrenal gland untouched.
How does it work?
🔬 Step 1: Special Scans to Find the Problem
Doctors use advanced molecular dyes that light up the adrenal nodules in special scans. These dyes help pinpoint exactly where the problem is.
🌡️ Step 2: Heat Energy to Fix It
Instead of cutting open the body, doctors use radiofrequency or microwaves to create a small amount of heat energy inside a thin needle. This gently burns away the bad nodule without harming the healthy adrenal gland!
📽️ Step 3: Guided by Ultrasound
Doctors use an endoscope, which is a tiny camera inside a flexible tube. They insert it through the patient’s mouth and into the stomach. From there, they can see the adrenal gland and guide a fine needle precisely into the nodule.
🔥 Step 4: Quick and Painless Removal
Once the needle is in the right spot, the machine delivers short bursts of heat to destroy the nodule. The best part? No cuts, no stitches, and no long recovery! The entire procedure takes just 20 minutes!
A Groundbreaking Study: Is Triple T Really That Good?
To test this new treatment, scientists ran an important study called FABULAS (Feasibility study of radiofrequency endoscopic ABlation, with ULtrasound guidance, as a non-surgical, Adrenal Sparing treatment for aldosterone-producing adenomas).
They performed Triple T on 28 patients who had a single aldosterone-producing nodule in their left adrenal gland. The results were amazing:
✅ Most patients had normal hormone levels after six months!
✅ Many were able to stop taking all blood pressure medicine!
✅ There were no major side effects or complications.
One of the study’s patients, Michelina Alfieri, shared her story:
“Before the study, I suffered from debilitating headaches for years despite multiple GP visits. As a full-time worker and single parent, my daily life was severely affected. This non-invasive treatment provided an immediate recovery—I was back to my normal routine straight away. I’m incredibly grateful to the team for giving me this choice.”
This means that Triple T could help millions of people avoid unnecessary surgery and get back to their normal lives faster and healthier than ever before!
What Happens Next?
Because Triple T has been so successful in early tests, doctors have now started a bigger clinical trial called WAVE. This time, they will compare Triple T with traditional adrenal gland surgery in 120 patients. If the results continue to be positive, this new treatment could become a standard medical procedure worldwide!
Dr. Stephen Pereira, a professor leading the FABULAS study, says:
“With appropriate training, this less invasive technique could be widely offered in endoscopy units across the UK and internationally.”
Another expert, Dr. Mark Gurnell from the University of Cambridge, adds:
“Thanks to this work, we may finally be able to diagnose and treat more people with primary aldosteronism, lowering their risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and other complications, and reducing the number of people dependent on long-term blood pressure medication.”
Why This Discovery is So Exciting!
This medical breakthrough is one of the biggest advancements in hypertension treatment in 70 years! Since the discovery of the aldosterone hormone in 1953, doctors have been looking for better ways to treat aldosterone-related hypertension. Now, thanks to modern technology, this dream is becoming a reality.
Triple T Could Help Millions of People Because It’s:
✅ Fast – Just 20 minutes instead of major surgery
✅ Safe – No large incisions, no general anesthesia
✅ Effective – Fixes the root cause of high blood pressure
✅ Life-changing – Lets people return to their daily lives almost immediately
This is a huge step forward in treating high blood pressure and could save countless lives in the future!
So, next time you hear about high blood pressure, remember—it’s not always just about salt or stress. Thanks to science, doctors are uncovering hidden causes and finding amazing new cures every day! 🔬✨
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, written in a kid-friendly format to make science fun and easy to understand and should not be taken as medical advice. The author is not a medical professional, and all information in this article is based on the original source from ScienceDaily (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250210132401.htm). For accurate medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
