Aggressive treatment of hypertension has been proved to reduce morbidity and mortality. Data from recent clinical trials indicate that, for all stages of hypertension, the target BP should be a maximum BP <140/90 mmHg, with diastolic BP values as low as 70 mmHg. For patients with diabetes mellitus or chronic renal disease, this target value should be even lower, <130/80 mmHg. As significant morbidity and mortality attributable to hypertension occur in patients who are not diagnosed as having hypertension but whose blood pressure is in prehypertension range, 120~139/80~89 mmHg, lowering BP levels in this group is recommended as well, with lifestyle modification or drug therapy for some indicated patients being first-line therapy. Because controlling BP to <140/90 mmHg often requires use of two or more agents, selection of drugs for combination therapy should be based not only on antihypertensive efficacy, but also on compelling indications and tolerability of the regimens. This review presents the latest findings on the antihypertensive therapy and emphasizes the importance of decreasing BP per the JNC-7 guidelines.
Blood Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Mortality ; Prehypertension ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

Hypertension is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease-related deaths among urban and rural residents, and it has become a significant global public health issue. In October 2022, the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension in China(hereinafter referred to as the Practice Guidelines) were jointly released by the National Cardiovascular Center and other academic organizations. The Practice Guidelines sparked extensive discussions as they clearly lowered the diagnostic criteria for hypertension, raised the blood pressure targets for elderly patients, and proposed changes in the timing of early medication intervention. While these adjustments have some international evidence-based support, there is still debate regarding the cardiovascular benefits of intensified blood pressure control based on the existing level of evidence. Furthermore, whether the series of new standards proposed in the Practice Guidelines are suitable for the Chinese population and whether the hypertension control level in primary care in China can adapt to the new diagnostic and treatment standards require further in-depth research. In contrast to the strict blood pressure control concept emphasized in the Practice Guidelines, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) emphasizes the concept of comprehensive prevention and treatment and holistic therapy in the treatment of hypertension, including prehypertension, hypertension, and target organ damage. In recent years, based on abundant clinical trial research and high-quality evidence-based support, the advantages of TCM in treating hypertension have gradually emerged. Previous studies by this research team have found that the pathogenesis of hypertension includes three major types: fire syndrome, fluid retention syndrome, and deficiency syndrome. TCM treatment of hypertension features stable blood pressure reduction, gentle blood pressure lowering, and long-lasting effects. In addition to blood pressure reduction, it also has effects such as reversing risk factors and protecting target organ damage. It demonstrates the characteristics of multiple targets, multiple components, and comprehensive regulation, and can be applied throughout the entire process of prevention and treatment, including prehypertension, hypertension, and target organ damage in the early, middle, and late stages of hypertension. Therefore, it has certain clinical application prospects.
Aged ; Humans ; Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use* ; China ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Prehypertension/drug therapy* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

The forward-shift prevention and treatment strategy is the current trend of the development of clinical medicine. As hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, it is curtail to pay attention to the prevention and treatment of prehypertension. Pre-hypertension refers to the blood pressure value between the normal blood pressure and high blood pressure, which easily develops into hypertension with complications. In recent years, pre-hypertension has attracted attentions both at home and abroad. The traditional Chinese medicinal theory of "preventive treatment of disease" shows its unique advantages in preventing and treating pre-hypertension and high blood pressure. With the socio-economic development and the changes in lifestyle, traditional pathogenetic theories have no longer kept pace with the occurrence regularity of modern high blood pressure and pre-hypertension. Therefore, the in-depth study on the pathogenesis of pre-hypertension is of great significance in the guidance of clinical prevention and treatment. It is believed that the etiologies of pre-hypertension are related to improper diet, sedentariness and emotional instability. In other words, stasis in six forms such as qi stagnation, dyspepsia, damp obstruction, phlegm stasis, blood stasis and fire stagnation is an crucial pathogenesis of pre-hypertension. Consequently, on the basis of the traditional Chinese medicinal theory of "preventive treatment of disease", the combination of the treatment based on syndrome differentiation and the correspondence of prescriptions and the syndromes in treating pre-hypertension is worth clinically promoting and applying.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Life Style ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Prehypertension ; drug therapy ; etiology ; prevention & control

Objective: To estimate the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rate of hypertension among young and middle-aged population in China. Methods: The analysis was based on the results of 2012-2015 China Hypertension Survey, which was a cross-sectional stratified multistage random sampling survey. A total of 229 593 subjects were included in the final analysis. The data including sex, age, living in urban and rural areas, prevalence of hypertension, history of stroke, family history of coronary heart disease and drinking, physical examination, heart rate were collected. Hypertension was defined as mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), and (or) diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mmHg, and (or) self-report a history of hypertension, and (or) use of antihypertensive medicine within 2 weeks before survey. Prehypertension was defined as SBP between 120-139 mmHg, and (or) DBP between 80-89 mmHg. Control of hypertension was considered for hypertensive individuals with SBP<140 mmHg and DBP<90 mmHg. The prevalence of prehypertension, hypertension, awareness, treatment, control rate were calculated, and the control rate among those with antihypertensive medication was also calculated. Results: The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension was 43.8% (95%CI: 42.3%-45.4%), and 22.1% (95%CI: 20.8%-23.3%), respectively. The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension was significantly higher among male than female across different age groups. The awareness, treatment, control rate of hypertension and control rate among treated hypertensive participants were 43.8%, 33.2%, 16.7%, and 40.2%, respectively. The prevalence was higher, and the control rate was lower among individuals with higher heart rate. Conclusion: The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among young and middle-aged population is high, the awareness, treatment and control rate need to be further improved in this population. The prevention and treatment of hypertension should be strengthened in the future to improve the control rate of hypertension in China.
Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Prehypertension/epidemiology* ; Prevalence ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Blood Pressure ; China/epidemiology*