[Treatment of arterial hypertension: 1993 recommendations].

Guidelines for the management of high blood pressure have been recently actualized by several expert panels. These reports display many common features: 1) non-pharmacological or pharmacological therapy should be initiated only after careful evaluation of hypertension (including repeated measurements of blood pressure) and associated cardiovascular risk factors; 2) life-style modifications should always be recommended: weight loss when overweight, regular physical activity, sodium restriction, moderation of alcohol consumption, smoking cessation; 3) initial drug therapy: all reports advocate the use of a low-dose diuretic or of a beta-blocker. According to contraindications or concomitant disease(s), other drugs can be used as initial therapy: converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium antagonists, alpha 1-blockers, alpha-beta-blockers.