Hypertension: Diagnosis, Initial Investigations and Starting Treatment - Related Resources

Cochrane reviews

Anti-platelet therapy with ASA in patients with elevated blood pressure reduces the incidence of myocardial infarction. For primary prevention, the benefit is negated by an increase in major haemorrhage, but for secondary prevention antiplatelet therapy is recommended because the absolute benefit is much greater ASA for Hypertension.
There is no evidence from RCTs that anti-hypertensive drugs reduce mortality or morbidity in patients with hypertensive emergencies, defined as marked hypertension associated with acute end organ damage Pharmacological Interventions for Hypertensive Emergencies.
An organized system of registration, recall and regular review linked to a vigorous stepped care approach to antihypertensive drug treatment appears the most likely way to improve the control of elevated blood pressure Interventions to Improve Control of Blood Pressure in Hypertension.

Green and black tea may have some benefits on blood pressure and lipid levels Green and Black Tea for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.
Flavanol-rich chocolate and cocoa products may have a small effect in lowering blood pressure by 2-3 mm Hg Effect of Cocoa on Blood Pressure.
Garlic may reduce blood pressure and have small short-term benefits on lipid-lowering and antiplatelet factors compared with placebo, but there is insufficient evidence on mortality and cardiovascular morbidity Garlic and Cardiovascular Risk Factors.
Fermented milk might possibly not be effective treatment for hypertension Fermented Milk for Hypertension.
There may be a negative association between dietary magnesium intake and blood pressure. Magnesium supplementation may decrease blood pressure Magnesium Supplementation and Blood Pressure.
There is insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of coenzyme Q10 for hypertension Coenzyme Q10 for Primary Hypertension.

Office-based blood pressure measurements appear to produce higher readings than self measurements or ambulatory blood pressure measurements Home Blood Pressure (Bp) Measurement Compared to Office Bp.
Population-bases screening for high blood pressure appears not be superior to case-finding. A compherensive "stepped care" approach and probably self-monitoring of blood pressure appears to improve blood pressure control. Multi-faceted interventions may improve adherence to treatment Detection, Adherence and Control of Hypertension for the Prevention of Stroke.

Mancia G, Fagard R, Narkiewicz K et al. 2013 ESH/ESC guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension: the Task Force for the Management of Arterial Hypertension of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Eur Heart J 2013;34(28):2159-219. [PubMed]
Perk J, De Backer G, Gohlke H et al. European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice (version 2012). The Fifth Joint Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and Other Societies on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice (constituted by representatives of nine societies and by invited experts). Developed with the special contribution of the European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation (EACPR). Eur Heart J 2012;33(13):1635-701. [PubMed]
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Hypertension: management of hypertension in adults in primary care. Clinical guideline CG127, 2011 http://www.nice.org.uk/CG127

Sacks FM, Campos H. Dietary therapy in hypertension. N Engl J Med 2010 Jun 3;362(22):2102-12. [PubMed]

Whitworth JA, World Health Organization, International Society of Hypertension Writing Group. 2003 World Health Organization (WHO)/International Society of Hypertension (ISH) statement on management of hypertension. J Hypertens 2003 Nov;21(11):1983-92. [PubMed]
O'Brien E, Waeber B, Parati G, Staessen J, Myers MG. Blood pressure measuring devices: recommendations of the European Society of Hypertension. BMJ 2001 Mar 3;322(7285):531-6. [PubMed]

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