title: Hypertension in the elderly. The benefits of therapy.
abstract: Because of the growing number of elderly in the population, hypertension in this age-group is becoming an increasingly important issue. Hypertension carries greater risk in the elderly, and the benefits of treatment of diastolic hypertension appear to be at least as great in this age-group as in younger populations. The benefits of treating systolic hypertension remain to be determined. On the basis of available information, hypertension in the elderly should be treated in a fashion similar in general to that used in younger patients. However, great care must be taken to minimize side effects, postural hypotension in particular. Special consideration of the physiologic, pharmacologic, behavioral, and socioeconomic factors in the elderly will help guide therapy design.
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D014665:Vasodilator Agents