Adequate dietary potassium in form of fresh fruits and vegetables. Commonly used first-line agents are equally effective in lowering blood pressure. However, only diuretics and beta-blockers have been shown to reduce mortality and morbidity in prospective trials. JNC-VI guidelines are more flexible in identifying clinical situations where other drugs might be used as monotherapy. More salt and volume sensitive.
Diuretics are drugs of first choice unless contraindication.
Calcium channel blockers and alpha-blockers also effective. ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers less effective than in whites. Multi-drug regimens more often required. Elderly Patients Diuretics are preferred agents. Avoid drugs known to cause orthostatic hypotension such as alpha-blockers.