Blood Pressure-Lowering Therapy

Abstract

Extensive evidence demonstrates that lowering blood pressure can substantially reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and death. In light of the latest 2018 European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension Joint Guidelines, we summarize the current recommendations about lifestyle intervention strategies, pharmacotherapy, and device-based treatments for the management of arterial hypertension. Special attention is given to direct effects exerted by some antihypertensive drugs targeting vascular wall cell components that are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.