Current treatment options must include development of a healthy lifestyle including low salt, low fat, high fibre, high potassium diets, moderate alcohol consumption, regular exercise and achievement of a ideal body weight. There is also a wide range of pharmaceutical agents available for treatment of hypertension and selection therefrom depends on:

a) establishing treatment goals

b) identifying the presence of target organ damage (retinopathy, LVH, proteinuria)

c) identifying associated conditions e.g. diabetes mellitus, asthma and heart disease

Low dose thiazide diuretics or beta-blockers are recommended for the uncomplicated patient. In these patients, meta-analyses have shown no significant difference in morbidity/mortality between these agents and angiotensin converting enzymes inhibitors or calcium channel blockers. However, trial data shows compelling indications for uses of specific classes of drugs in patients with co-morbid conditions, including diabetes, coronary artery disease and heart failure.

Management strategies for use in clinical practice will be presented and discussed.