Hypertension in the elderly.

Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, particularly in the elderly. Blood pressure elevation in the elderly is due to structural and functional changes that occur with aging. Treatment of hypertension reduces the risk of stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, all-cause mortality, cognitive impairment, and dementia in elderly patients with hypertension. A healthy lifestyle helps hypertension management, with benefits extending beyond lowering of blood pressure. Several classes of antihypertensive drugs are effective in preventing cardiovascular events. Treatment decisions should be guided by the presence of compelling indications such as diabetes or heart failure and by the tolerability of individual drugs or drug combinations in individual patients. The concomitant intake of certain medications that counter the effects of antihypertensive drugs and the frequent occurrence of orthostatic hypotension complicate treatment in older patients and drive down blood pressure control rates.