title: Primary prevention of hypertension: rationale, approaches, realities and perspectives.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in economically developed countries and is a rapidly evolving cause of mortality and morbidity in the industrialized nations of Eastern Europe and in economically developing countries. To produce a meaningful reduction in morbidity and mortality, management of patients with existing cardiovascular disease must be coupled with treatment and prevention of hypertension and other major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Prevention of hypertension is best achieved by concurrent application of general population and targeted approaches aimed at reducing body weight, sodium intake and alcohol consumption, and at increasing physical activity. Although the lifestyle changes necessary for a meaningful impact on body weight, sodium intake, alcohol consumption and physical activity are difficult to achieve and maintain, the corresponding potential for benefit is great. Given the existing and projected burden of illness from blood pressure-related cardiovascular disease, primary prevention of hypertension should be accorded increasing importance both at an international as well as a national level.
authors.affiliation: Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205-2223, USA.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Whelton
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*