Our Hypertension Clinic Staff
Jennifer Smith, MSN, NP-C
Education:
- Earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Nursing from Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, Michigan
- Has more than 20 years
of health care experience
including areas involving
acute and chronic illness management for long-term care patients and Urgent Care.
Charles J. Gbur Jr., MD, FACC, FSCAI
Medical Degree: 1983-1987, Doctor of Medicine, The Ohio State University, College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
Graduate School: 1992-1994, Ph.D. program, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Advanced studies in vascular physiology and molecular cloning techniques. Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
Fellowship: 1991-1994, Cardiovascular Disease, The Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA
United State Naval War College: 1998-2002, Correspondence Program, College of Continuing Education
Board Certifications:
- 1991 American Board of Internal Medicine, #133459 (Internal Medicine)
- 1995 ABIM Subspecialty Certification, Cardiovascular Diseases, #133459
- 1999 ABIM Added Certification in lnterventional Cardiology
- 2007 American Board of Preventive Medicine, Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine #001332
Hospital Affiliation: Fulton County Health Center
Our Location
FCHC Heart and Vascular Hypertension Clinic
Located in the North Medical Office Building
725 South Shoop Avenue, Suite G-02
Wauseon, OH 43567
Phone: 419-330-3315
FCHC Heart & Vascular Hypertension Clinic
FCHC Heart & Vascular Hypertension Clinic provides leading-edge diagnosis and treatment for the full spectrum of hypertensive disorders. We have expertise in treating hypertensive disorders including:
- Complex hypertension
- Adrenal hypertension (from aldosterone and catecholamine excess)
- Renovascular disease
- Drug-resistant hypertension
- Genetic disorders associated with elevated blood pressure
- Hypertension associated with reduced kidney function
- Neuroendocrine tumors
What Is Hypertension?
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a condition characterized by elevated blood pressure in the arteries. Systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading, and refers to the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats or contracts. Diastolic blood pressure is the bottom number, and refers to the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats. When blood pressure is high it can be very dangerous, contributing to a variety of health problems including:
- Heart disease/ coronary artery disease
- Stroke
- Chronic kidney disease
- Peripheral artery disease
- Aneurysms
Treatment for Hypertension
At FCHC Heart & Vascular, our Clinical Hypertension Specialists work in a multidisciplinary manner to create individualized treatment plans for every patient. Typical treatments include medication and changes in diet and lifestyle as well as renal denervation. FCHC was the first hospital in the tristate area to offer this advanced treatment option to care for patients with resistant and difficult to control hypertension.
Renal Denervation?
Renal denervation is a minimally invasive, FDA approved procedure to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) that has not improved with other treatments. This type of hypertension is called resistant hypertension.
Your brain, heart and kidneys send messages to nerves throughout your body to help regulate your blood pressure. Over activity in these nerves can increase your blood pressure. Renal denervation reduces activity in the renal nerves in the kidneys to help lower blood pressure.
Our interventional cardiologist uses a catheter to send ultrasound or radiofrequency (heat) energy to the renal arteries, the blood vessels supplying blood to the kidneys. This energy destroys (ablates) renal nerves without damaging the arteries. The reduced nerve activity causes a drop in blood pressure.
Your provider may recommend renal denervation if you have resistant hypertension.
Diet and Lifestyle Changes
Diet and lifestyle changes are critical to managing high blood pressure. FCHC has special services such as a medical weight management clinic and dieticians to assist patients in controlling their blood pressure. Lifestyle changes to control or prevent hypertension include:
- Dietary approaches to stop hypertension such as the DASH diet which consists of nutrient rich foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low sodium, low saturated fat and low in dairy
- Smoking cessation
- Eliminating alcohol
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Exercise
- Stress management
Medications
Careful balancing and monitoring of medications is extremely important in each individual patient. Medications to manage hypertension may include:
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
- Diuretics
- Beta-blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
- Alpha-blockers
- Alpha-agonists
- Renin inhibitors
- Combination medications
What To Bring To Appointments
When you visit our office, please remember to bring three things with you:
- Your current photo ID, such as your driver’s license
- Your current health insurance card
- A list of medical prescriptions you are currently taking