| "Newspapers, magazines and TV commercials carry numerous warnings of the risks of high blood cholesterol levels and smoking for heart disease. Coronary artery narrowing leading to angina, acute heart attacks, and sudden death is well known to be related to blood cholesterol and smoking. We hear much less ? practically nothing ? about the effects of these two risks on kidney disease. And yet, an important connection exits. The common denominator is " ", not only in the blood vessels of the heart, but also throughout the body. The heart has received all of the publicity because heart disease is so dramatic and a heart attack can be fatal. However, other blood vessels also become narrowed by " ". In the case of the blood vessels that lead to the kidneys, this can result in high blood pressure and kidney failure. Here is what happens." " is by far the most common cause. That is where the similarity to coronary heart disease comes in. In the case of both the heart and the kidneys, " "The big difference between the heart and the kidneys, however, is that renal artery stenosis is a silent disease. There are no symptoms so people don?t know it is happening. " "Because there are no early symptoms, it is unlikely that you or your doctor would consider the diagnosis. However, high blood pressure can be a result of renal artery stenosis. " "A clue to the diagnosis is that the high blood pressure may not respond well to blood pressure drugs or other measures." " If this is the case, your doctor may recommend special tests, such as a radionuclide scan, a kidney CT scan, or a renal arteriograph, any of which could establish the correct
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