Combined drug therapy of hypertension

Abstract

Since current drug treatment of hypertension is primarily suppressive rather than curative, the prolonged maintenance of blood pressure reduction is as important as the ability to cause an early and marked depression of the blood pressure by acute treatment. Since such prolonged suppressive treatment has been demonstrated to diminish the incidence of major cerebro-vascular, cardiac and renal complications of patients with severe forms of the disease, it is presumed, although not proven, that asymptomatic hypertension will also be favorably influenced by reduction of the blood pressure. However, since all forms of drug treatment are attended by inconvenience and expense to the patient, one should attempt if possible to distinguish those persons whose prognosis is so benign that no drug treatment is necessary. In our current practice we identify four types of patients in whom treatment is not initiated but who are asked to return for a follow-up in the event their condition should worsen in later years.