title: Medicines for hypertension: changes to the UK NICE guidelines.
abstract: New NICE guidance on the use of medicines for hypertension, published in June 2006, will prompt a major review of treatment for those already receiving medication and also sets out a new treatment pathway for the newly diagnosed. The major change in the guidelines is in the status of beta blockers, which are no longer to be used as a routine treatment for hypertension. The guidelines provide a consensus on treatment, and nurses and their patients now have a clear and straightforward algorithm to follow. It is envisaged that these changes to the way medicines are prescribed for hypertension will have a significant impact on the number of people reaching their target blood pressure, and therefore the number of cardiovascular events occurring each year.
authors.affiliation: Blood Pressure Association, London.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ransome
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gower
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008403:Mass Screening; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents