Hypertension and Related Disorders

1. Introduction and background- Importance of hypertension in an aging population Dangers of untreated hypertension-end-organ damage Relationship to other cardiovascular risk factors (see also under aetiology) 2. Definition and epidemiology Changing criteria for defining hypertension Relative importance of systolic and diastolic measurements Recognition that BP rises with age but that this is not inevitable or benign 3 Aetiology "Essential" hypertension and its possible contributory factors (obesity, salt, stress) Relatively common primary causes of hypertension (renovascular and renal parenchymal disease, Conn's syndrome) Rare and very rare causes (phaeochromocytoma, other endocrine and single-gene disorders) Association with the metabolic syndrome Ethnic differences in clinical patterns of hypertension 4 Diagnosis Role of screening in different populations Importance of accurate and consistent BP measurements Extent of essential and potentially useful investigations 5 Prevention Lifestyle factors affecting likelihood of hypertension Advice on nutrition and exercise 6 Treatment Blood pressure targets in treatment Non-pharmacological measures Classes of drugs used treatment Evidence base from clinical trials Concept of individualised treatment regimes Importance of combination therapy Special problems of adherence to therapy Initial management of hypertensive urgencies and emergencies 7 Future developments Probability of more stringent targets vs economic considerations New drug therapies Remote possibilities for gene therapy Clinical Cases Drug Tables Abbreviations List Addresses of Useful Organisations, websites, other available resources for both GP and patient References Index