title: [Managing hypertension: the uncertainty of definitions and targets].
abstract: In clinical practice, physicians are confronted with a multitude of definitions and treatment goals for arterial hypertension, depending of the diagnostic method used (e.g. office, home and ambulatory blood pressure measurement) and the underlying disease. The historical background and evidence of these different blood pressure thresholds are discussed in this article, as well as some recent treatment guidelines. Besides, the debate of the "J curve", namely the possible risks associated with an excessive blood pressure reduction, is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Service de néphrologie et consultation d'hypertension, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne. valentina.forni@chuv.ch
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Forni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wuerzner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pruijm
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guihard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burnier
mesh_terms: D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic