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EXHIBIT 99.1

HYPERTENSION DIAGNOSTICS, INC.         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2915 Waters Road, Suite 108
Eagan, MN 55121-1562
                                       Contact:   JAMES S. MURPHY
                                                  Chief Financial Officer
                                                  Hypertension Diagnostics, Inc.
                                                  651-687-9999


HYPERTENSION DIAGNOSTICS ANNOUNCES THE HIRING OF DENNIS L. SELLKE AS CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND HIS APPOINTMENT AS A BOARD MEMBER

ST. PAUL, MN - April 19, 1999 - Hypertension Diagnostics, Inc. (Nasdaq Small
Cap: HDII; HDIIW; HDIIU), today announced the hiring of Dennis L. Sellke to
serve as Chief Executive Officer, and his appointment to the Board of Directors.
Mr. Sellke will assume his duties immediately. Greg H. Guettler continues as
President of Hypertension Diagnostics, Inc. ("HDI").


     Mr. Sellke served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ela*Angeion
LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota, a French and United States joint venture
established to market and sell pacemakers and ICDs in the United States. Mr.
Sellke also serves as Chairman and was Chief Executive Officer of Clarus
Medical, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, a privately-held medical device company
involved in OEM manufacturing and spinal disc therapy sales; previous to that,
he served in various executive capacities with Medtronic, Inc., Fridley,
Minnesota.


     Melville R. Bois, Chairman of the Board of HDI, said "I am delighted that
HDI was able to attract an executive of Mr. Sellke's caliber". Mr. Sellke said
"I am extremely excited about joining the HDI team. The hypertensive patient
population is sizeable. I believe their diagnosis and treatment can be improved
substantially once our proprietary Model DO-2020 is cleared by the FDA. Our
business model can benefit all HDI stakeholders: patients, their physicians,
insurers and our employees and shareholders. I look forward to being part of
this potentially significant medical business."


                                     -MORE-


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PAGE 2, HYPERTENSION DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
APRIL 19, 1999


     Hypertension Diagnostics has designed and developed proprietary,
non-invasive cardiovascular profiling equipment which presents several
parameters that may be useful in assessing the cardiovascular system. The
Company has developed two models of the HDI/PULSEWAVE-TM- CardioVascular
Profiling Instrument: (1) the Model CR-2000 which can be used for clinical
research purposes only; and (2) the Model DO-2020 which is intended to assist
physicians and other health care professionals with screening, diagnosing and
monitoring the treatment of patients. The Company may not market the Model
DO-2020 until clearance is received from the Food and Drug Administration
("FDA").


         Forward-looking statements in this press release, if any, are made
under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undo reliance on any
forward-looking statements and to recognize that the statements are not
predictions of actual future results. Actual results could differ materially
from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements due to the risks and
uncertainties set forth in the Company's 1998 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB under
the caption "Risk Factors," as well as others not now anticipated. These risks
and uncertainties include, without limitation, the Company's ability to receive
regulatory approval for its Model DO-2020 product; the availability of
third-party reimbursements; market acceptance of the Company's products; timely
development of the central data management facility; the ability of third
parties to manufacture the Company's products on a commercial scale and in
compliance with regulatory requirements; the availability of integral components
for the Company's products; the Company's ability to develop distribution
channels; increased competition; changes in government regulation; health care
reform; exposure to potential product liability; and the Company's ability to
protect its proprietary technology.


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