title: Therapeutic approach to hypertension in the elderly.
abstract: Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in the elderly. This article addresses the factors that increasingly influence hypertension as age increases. In addition, the initial therapeutic approach to the elderly hypertensive patient should generally consist of a reduction in salt and caloric intake and increased exercise. Drug therapy should be initiated with lower doses of medication with special concern about orthostatic hypotension. The drug regimen should be made as simple as possible and be carefully explained to the patient. With these considerations in mind, hypertension in the geriatric patient can be effectively managed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Hypertension, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sowers
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imam
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Byyny
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011311:Pressoreceptors / Q000502:physiology; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic