High BP is called the “silent killer” because many people do not realize that they have a problem until HTN puts them at risk for heart disease, stroke, chronic renal failure, peripheral vascular disease, and retinopathy.12,14 The diagnosis of primary HTN is based on evidence of elevated SBP and/or DBP in the absence of secondary causes.12 When SBP and DBP fall into different categories, the higher category is used to determine treatment strategies. The classification includes new category of “elevated” for those individuals with BP ranging from 120-129/<80. The elevated BP category is not a disease category.12 Rather, it is a designation intended to identify individuals who require health-promoting lifestyle modifications to reduce their risk of developing HTN.
The basic evaluation recommended for patients with elevated BP includes a review of the medical history, physical examination, and routine laboratory testing.12,14 The medical evaluation of patients with documented elevated BP has 3 objectives:
Lifestyle and Cardiovascular Risk Factors | Target-organ Damage |
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