[The campaign against arterial hypertension].

The Authors synthetize the up to date knowledge about arterial hypertension as a community disease. They consider benefits and disadvantages of long term drug treatment for millions of people and the usefulness of hygienic and nutritional action, centered on behavioral risk factors that can be modified by means of personal and social changes in the way of life. In the Authors' opinion, the traditional person to person approach--often only pharmacological--must be coupled with a community approach, centered on reducing the risk factors. Health Education is an essential and effective tool in the struggle against arterial hypertension, that is a part of the broadest fight against the chronic degenerative diseases.