High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a leading cause of stroke, heart attacks, kidney failure and other life-threatening conditions. But for some patients, even after taking medication and making lifestyle changes, their blood pressure remains stubbornly high. This is what doctors call resistant hypertension. This is a growing concern in Kenya and around the world, occurring when a person’s blood pressure remains high despite taking at least three types of medication, including a diuretic, which helps the body eliminate excess salt and water. According to Dr Etienne Amendezo, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, “These patients are not a small group – they represent around 15 to 20 per cent of all individuals with high blood pressure.”