Hypertension: medical and nursing implications

Hypertension is a major public health problem affecting 20 to 30 million people in the United States, many of whom are undetected, untreated, or inadequately treated. Because hypertension often is asymptomatic for decades, it must be systematically sought out in apparently well persons if the condition is to be treated in its earliest stages and complications prevented. With the recent advent of effective antihypertensive medications treatment is available, once the patient has been diagnosed. Physicians and nurses have a major responsibility to direct the patient into treatment and to assure the effectiveness of his follow-up care. Noncompliance is a direct challenge to everyone seeing the patient. The patient must be motivated to accept and continue therapy through education and, most important, by the establishment of a good interpersonal relationship with the nurse and/or the physician.