Sorting it out: What JNC 8 is and what it is not

Abstract

The landscape for hypertension guideline development and dissemination has changed. The intense debate surrounding the recent JNC 8 publication obscures the value this guideline offers to providers managing hypertension. Recommendations published by the panel appointed to JNC 8, when interpreted and applied as intended, can indeed guide hypertension management. The purpose of this commentary is to pare down what the JNC 8 publication is and what is not, so as to transcend the controversy and foster application of these guidelines to clinical practice.