Aging and hypertension.

Aging is known to be a dominant risk factor in the progression of hypertension. Thus, accompanied by an increasing mean age of the population in developed countries, prevention and management of hypertension in the elderly is a task of pressing urgency. Age-associated blood pressure elevation is a result of the aging process in organ systems, which play a key role in the regulation of blood pressure. In addition, advanced aging of the cardiovascular system contributes to the presence of a varied phenotype in elderly hypertension, such as nocturnal hypertension and morning hypertension. Therefore, in order to detect and treat age-associated hypertension appropriately, it is important to assess ambulatory blood pressure monitoring throughout the 24-h period.