Dexamethasone Sensitive Hypertension Treatment in India

Angel Chopra, a 48-year-old high school...

Angel Chopra, a 48-year-old high school principal and mother of two, had always been the picture of health. For the past year, she had been battling persistent, severe headaches and unexplained fatigue that disrupted her demanding schedule. Her primary care physician discovered her blood pressure was dangerously high (180/110 mmHg) despite a healthy lifestyle and two standard antihypertensive medications. Further tests ruled out common causes. Her cardiologist, noting the severity and resistance to treatment, suspected a secondary cause. He recommended a Dexamethasone Suppression Test, explaining it could identify a rare form of hypertension driven by excess cortisol. Angel was terrified; the word 'tumor' loomed large in her mind. The test itself was straightforward but emotionally draining, taking medication and having her blood drawn over several days while anxiously awaiting results. The test was positive, confirming glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism (GRA). The outcome was life-changing: she was switched to a low dose of dexamethasone, which normalized her blood pressure within weeks and eliminated her headaches. Emotionally, she moved from fear and frustration to profound relief and empowerment. Knowing the exact cause and having a simple, effective treatment allowed her to reclaim her energy and her life without the shadow of unexplained illness.