Overview and other metabolic issues and concerns in management of mild hypertension.

What are the implications of the findings discussed in this paper as related to the development of cardiovascular disease and its complications? As documented, both diuretics and beta-blockers can influence the risk factor profile adversely. We as yet, however, do not know whether the atherosclerotic process is affected by such therapies. Clearly, we need to understand better the vascular effects of antihypertensive drugs before we can draw any conclusions regarding their relative values in the treatment of the hypertensive patient.