Hypertension

The aetiology of hypertension remains obscure in the majority of cases, and treatment, therefore, somewhat empirical. However, abnormalities in the structure and function of the vasculature are increasingly recognized as contributing to the hypertensive state by increasing total peripheral resistance. This chapter briefly reviews some of these abnormalities with particular regard to the way in which they influence treatment, and suggests new therapeutic strategies. A minority of hypertensive individuals have a clearly identified hormonal or structural cause for their elevated pressure ('secondary hypertension') and are not specifically considered further here, although some animal models rely on such aetiologies to produce hypertension for experimental purposes.