NATIONAL NEWS - Pretoria’s own healthcare practitioner, Dr Jacobus Benson, is the mind behind what might be the world’s biggest medical breakthrough this century, Rekord East reports.
Imagine a way to control blood pressure (hypertension) without the use of potent pharmacological drugs.
On 15 January, Benson published an original research article on aortic arch baroreceptor stimulation – a novel method to lower blood pressure.
The 52-year-old cardiologist spoke to the media about the revolutionary concept that would very likely change the world and improve the quality of human life.
“The effect of aortic baroreceptor stimulation on blood pressure was assessed using the goat species Capra aegagrus hircus,” Benson said.
In layman’s terms, Benson explained that the “device” used to control blood pressure would look and have a similar function to that of a pacemaker.
“During tests, we found that electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus showed encouraging results in lowering blood pressure.”
With a team of medical professionals from across the world, Benson spent four years researching and testing baroreceptor stimulation on animals.
“The concept is ready for testing on the human model,” Benson said.
“We might see this realise in the next two years.”
Born in the Free State, Benson always knew he wanted to become a doctor.
He completed his studies in Pretoria in 1990, fulfilling his dream and practising in the Jacaranda city.
The father of two said he always had a thirst for knowledge and was constantly doing research.
“The medical world just fascinates me, and I spend most of my time researching and trying to learn more.”
It was during a conference in Berlin, Germany that Benson first conceived the idea of the hypertension treatment.“In 2015 it was estimated that the global prevalence of hypertension was 1.13 billion worldwide,” said Benson.
The estimated increase of people with hypertension by 2025 would be 1.5 billion.
Benson said high blood pressure in humans was the highest risk factor for cardiovascular disease, premature death, and disability.
Cardiovascular diseases include coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmias – such as atrial fibrillation.
Despite the effect of pharmacological drugs in treating hypertension, a substantial number of patients do not achieve goal blood pressure values.
Various drug trials and lifestyle-change studies showed significant reductions in cardiovascular events, yet globally hypertension remained poorly controlled.
Benson was excited to explain that people struggling with high blood pressure or were resistant to medication would benefit greatly from the baroreceptor stimulation.
“This would of course also be very beneficiary for women, struggling with blood pressure, wanting to become pregnant.”
Although clinical studies on the human model were yet to be done, Benson said he was in no doubt that – should the trials yield success – the quality of life would improve.
