RT Book, Section A1 Krakoff, Lawrence R. A2 Fuster, Valentin A2 Harrington, Robert A. A2 Narula, Jagat A2 Eapen, Zubin J. SR Print(0) ID 1191186415 T1 DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION T2 Hurst's The Heart, 14e YR 2017 FD 2017 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071843249 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1191186415 RD 2024/11/13 AB SummaryThis chapter discusses the diagnosis and treatment of patients with hypertension. Hypertension is usually a silent disorder, and initially identified during a regular clinical check-up or assessment for nonemergent symptoms. The importance of out-of-office (either 24h ambulatory or home) blood pressure (BP) measurement for accurate prognosis is becoming increasingly apparent. Despite improved detection rates, research indicates that hypertension is likely to remain a considerable challenge for the prevention of cardiovascular disease over the next few decades. With use of effective available treatments, however, reductions in this risk factor could have more impact on the prevention of premature cardiovascular death over the next decade than reductions of other common risk factors. Effective treatment involves lifestyle changes as well as prescription of antihypertensive medications (see accompanying Hurst's Central Illustration). Multiple pharmacotherapies exist over an array of drug classes. Most hypertensive individuals require treatments from two or three drug classes to effectively control their blood pressure. Interventional modalities, such as renal denervation and baroreflex activation therapy, are being investigated for use in patients with hypertension that is resistant to drug therapy.