Prehypertension-What Is It and Should It Be Treated?

In May 2006, a panel of experts was assembled during the meeting of the American Society of Hypertension, Inc to discuss the diagnosis and treatment of prehypertension. Is it a real entity? Does it pose a risk? Should it be treated entirely with lifestyle interventions or should some patients be placed on pharmacologic therapy? The panel was chaired by Dr Marvin Moser, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, and Editor in Chief of The Journal of Clinical Hypertension. Panelists included Dr Thomas Giles, Professor of Medicine at Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA; Dr Joseph Izzo, Jr, Professor of Medicine at SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, NY; and Dr Henry Black, Roberts Professor of Preventive Medicine at the Rush University School of Medicine in Chicago, Chicago, IL.