Patients with several risk factors who are at higher risk for a heart attack or stroke should be prescribed drugs at lower blood pressure levels than patients who have no other risk factors. This approach recognizes that multiple factors are responsible for the development and acceleration of cardiovascular disease. Thus, an older male patient who has a systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg, diabetes, and heart failure, is clearly managed in a different way from someone with a similar blood pressure level but no other risk factors. JNC VI acknowledges that each patient must be carefully evaluated and physicians must use their best judgment to make individualized treatment decisions. Hypertension, which affects about 50 million Americans, continues to be a major public health issue.
Untreated hypertension can damage the kidneys and lead to stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.
Treating hypertension can reduce the risk for these conditions. Thus, the Institute will continue to support and critically evaluate new research on hypertension.