Hypertension

Abstract

Whether or not to prescribe antihypertensive drugs for a patient should be decided on the basis of an estimate of relative risk of cardiovascular complications. Will the benefit outweigh the potential adverse effects, inconvenience and expense of lifelong chemotherapy? A persistently high elevation of diastolic blood pressure signifies hypertension of high risk and is by itself an indication for this treatment, but in mild or borderline cases without evidence of target organ damage, watchful waiting seems indicated.