title: Mild hypertension as a cardiovascular risk factor.
abstract: One thing is now clear; a little hypertension can be lethal, and rigid normalization of the pressure prolongs life and reduces cardiovascular sequelae of hypertension, possibly including coronary heart disease. There is little excuse for not treating hypertension, including mild hypertension. However, while all hypertension should be treated, for some, particularly mild hypertension, only hygienic measures such as weight reduction, salt restriction, avoidance of cigarettes, and diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may be all that is required. Risk can be cut in half in a hypertensive who stops smoking (Table 6). Controlled trials to test the efficiency of such measures in mild hypertension are needed. For those mild hypertensives with a poor cardiovascular risk profile whose pressures remain high despite hygienic measures, vigorous and sustained drug therapy are necessary.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol