On completion of the chapter, the reader will be able to:
1. Describe arterial blood pressure (BP) and the pathophysiology of hypertension.
2. Identify hypertension related target-organ damage and major cardiovascular (CV) risk factors.
3. Define the BP classification as outlined by the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7).
4. Describe the appropriate procedures and criteria needed to diagnose hypertension.
5. State the overall purpose of treating hypertension and list specific BP goals.
6. Recommend lifestyle modifications for the management of hypertension and describe the effectiveness of these modifications.
7. Outline recommended management of patients with prehypertension and hypertension.
8. List the compelling indications for individual antihypertensive drug classes and describe how these influence selection of drug therapy.
9. Compare and contrast the clinical characteristics (pharmacology/mechanism of action, benefits, adverse effects, interactions, unique dosing considerations, contraindications, monitoring) of antihypertensive drugs.
10. Identify first-line therapy options for hypertension according to the JNC7 and 2007 American Heart Association guidelines.
11. Identify why thiazide-type diuretics are considered first-line therapy for hypertension, and describe supporting evidence from the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT).
12. Outline drug therapy recommendations for compelling indications (i.e., left ventricular dysfunction, postmyocardial infarction, coronary disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and recurrent stroke prevention), and describe their supporting evidence.
13. Describe special considerations for antihypertensive management in older individuals and those at risk for orthostatic hypotension.
14. Identify the clinical use and characteristics of alternative antihypertensive agents.
15. List important components of patient counseling regarding hypertension, lifestyle modification, and drug therapy.
16. Identify potential causes for lack of responsiveness to therapy.
17. Describe the rationale and appropriate use of combination drug therapy for hypertension.
18. List effective antihypertensive drug combinations.
19. Devise appropriate antihypertensive therapy and monitoring plans for patients with hypertension.
20. Compare and contrast the goals of treatment and pharmacotherapy for managing hypertensive urgency and emergency.
21. Identify patients with resistant hypertension and recommend pharmacotherapy for these patients.
