Hypertension is one of the more common diseases affecting American adults. It is the cause of at least one fourth, and perhaps as many as one half, of all cardiovascular deaths. In spite of its importance, only about one half of those with the disease ordinarily are detected, only one half of those found to be hypertensive are being treated, and, of those who are receiving treatment, only one half, that is one eighth of the total hypertensive population, are receiving adequate treatment.Essential hypertension has been considered to be a disease of adults. The information available to physicians about its mechanisms, its endpoints, and its therapy has been developed from data collected in adult populations.
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