Episode description

Do you know the #1 preventable cause of death worldwide? It’s high blood pressure—a condition that half of the population doesn’t even know they have. Mismanaged and misunderstood, this "silent killer" leads to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and dementia. Yet, most people rely on outdated tools like cuffs that deliver inconsistent readings or aren’t used correctly at all.

In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Jay Shah, a cardiologist and blood pressure expert to tackle the barriers holding us back from controlling hypertension effectively. Together, we explore how innovative tools are not just changing how we measure blood pressure, but how we approach prevention, treatment, and even early detection.

We also talk about topics like metabolic syndrome, the connection between stress and hypertension, and how small lifestyle changes can yield big results. 

Dr. Jay Shah is a practicing cardiologist with over 15 years of experience, including tenure at the Mayo Clinic and Mass General. Now the Chief Medical Officer at Aktiia, he is leading the charge in developing wearable health technologies that aim to transform global blood pressure management.

We Also Discuss:

(00:00) Health Presentation at Harvard Business School

(18:14) Understanding Metabolic Syndrome and Its Connection to Blood Pressure

(32:52) Lifestyle Factors and Their Impact on Hypertension

(40:40) Stress, Sleep, and Their Role in Blood Pressure Management

(48:51) Identification and Management of Resistant Hypertension

(01:00:15) Strategic Use of Blood Pressure Medications

(01:06:16) The Evolution of Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring Technology

(01:12:28) Future Innovations in Blood Pressure Monitoring and Predictive Health

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Learn more about Dr. Shah:

Website: https://www.drshah.com/

Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/

Learn more about Dr. Jay Shah:

Website: https://aktiia.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aktiiaglobal/