Arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease and heart fail ure are the commonest cardiovascular conditions to present in clinical practice. Over the past few years it has become in creasingly clear that they are closely and causally interrelated and that their relationship can have a significant bearing on prognosis. Epidemiological studies have shown that arterial hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for de veloping heart failure. Only one in four patients with hyper tension is adequately managed, and in 50% of cases, the hypertension has not been recognised or treated. Patients with pre-existing hypertension who go on to suffer an acute myocardial infarction have usually not previously had typi cal angina symptoms, the infarct territory is larger, life threatening arrhythmias are commoner and hence in-hospi tal mortality and long-term prognosis are markedly worse. The presence of raised blood pressure in the post-infarct phase doubles the risk of manifest heart failure. The close relationship between hypertension, coronary heart disease and heart failure makes the choice of therapeu tic strategy particularly important. Agents and classes of agents that have prognostic value in all three conditions should be considered first, as synergy might result in addi tional benefits. In such patients, this sort of therapeutic deci sion-making might have further advantages. The use of these agents may prevent complications which are not yet clinically obvious (such as heart failure).

This book explains how hypertension affects 20-50% of the adult population in developed countries. Heart failure is the result of the hypertension's effects on the heart and it represents a growing public health problem. In this context the international scientific community is continuously struggling to develop better strategies in screening, diagnosing and treating hypertension and its deleterious effects. Thus, this field is continuously changing, with new important information being added constantly. This volume will offer both insights into the intimate mechanisms of transition from hypertension to heart failure and clinical practice advice on the prevention and treatment of heart failure in hypertensive population. The mechanisms which explain the progression from hypertension to heart failure will be also covered exhaustively by offering two chapters referring to the diagnosis of heart failure in hypertensive population and one regarding echocardiography which is the most frequently used imaging method in clinical practice. The reader will be also provided with information on cardiovascular magnetic resonance which has the unique advantage of differentiating hypertensive heart failure from other pathologies associated with increased myocardial thickness. This book is a useful tool for clinicians but also to the research community interested in heart failure and consequences of hypertension on heart who want to be up-to-date with the new developments in the field.

Chronic diseases are common and costly, yet they are also among the most preventable health problems. Comprehensive and accurate disease surveillance systems are needed to implement successful efforts which will reduce the burden of chronic diseases on the U.S. population. A number of sources of surveillance data-including population surveys, cohort studies, disease registries, administrative health data, and vital statistics-contribute critical information about chronic disease. But no central surveillance system provides the information needed to analyze how chronic disease impacts the U.S. population, to identify public health priorities, or to track the progress of preventive efforts. A Nationwide Framework for Surveillance of Cardiovascular and Chronic Lung Diseases outlines a conceptual framework for building a national chronic disease surveillance system focused primarily on cardiovascular and chronic lung diseases. This system should be capable of providing data on disparities in incidence and prevalence of the diseases by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic region, along with data on disease risk factors, clinical care delivery, and functional health outcomes. This coordinated surveillance system is needed to integrate and expand existing information across the multiple levels of decision making in order to generate actionable, timely knowledge for a range of stakeholders at the local, state or regional, and national levels. The recommendations presented in A Nationwide Framework for Surveillance of Cardiovascular and Chronic Lung Diseases focus on data collection, resource allocation, monitoring activities, and implementation. The report also recommends that systems evolve along with new knowledge about emerging risk factors, advancing technologies, and new understanding of the basis for disease. This report will inform decision-making among federal health agencies, especially the Department of Health and Human Services; public health and clinical practitioners; non-governmental organizations; and policy makers, among others.

An authoritative, yet practical and user-friendly text that provides rapid information to help primary care providers care for a patient at hand, and simultaneously serves as an up-to-date review. Written by well-known leaders in the field, the text aids in diagnosis and treatment of cardiac patients through the use of color-coded flow diagrams. Also offers a practical approach to common cardiac signs and symptoms. A liberal use of summary tables, diagrams, algorithms, and 185 full color line illustrations make information easy to access and understand. Spanish version also available, ISBN: 84-8174-432-8

This book provides comprehensive analysis into individualized patient care, and applying evidence‐based medicine while integrating basic medical knowledge with applied medicine. The Editor and the contributors not only discuss important issues on hypertension management and its deleterious consequences if it is not well‐controlled, but also highlight the important signaling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of hypertensive heart disease and cardiac hypertrophy.

The third edition of Hypertension: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease, by Drs. George L. Bakris and Matthew Sorrentino, focuses on every aspect of managing and treating patients who suffer from hypertensive disorders. Designed for cardiologists, endocrinologists and nephrologists alike, this expansive, in-depth review boasts expert guidance from contributors worldwide, keeping you abreast of the latest developments from basic science to clinical trials and guidelines. Features expert guidance from worldwide contributors in cardiology, endocrinology, neurology and nephrology. Covers behavior management as an integral part of treatment plans for hypertensives and pre-hypertensives. Covers new developments in epidemiology, pathophysiology, immunology, clinical findings, laboratory testing, invasive and non-invasive testing, risk stratification, clinical decision-making, prognosis, and management. Includes chapters on hot topics such as hypertension as an immune disease; sleep disorders including sleep apnea, a major cause of hypertension; a novel chapter on environmental pollution and its contribution to endothelial dysfunction, and more! Equips you with the most recent guidelines from the major societies. Updates sourced from the main Braunwald's Heart Disease text. Highlights new combination drug therapies and the management of chronic complications of hypertension.

Hypertensive heart disease, the number one cause of death associated with hypertension, refers to coronary artery disease, heart failure, and enlargement of the heart that occurs because of high blood pressure. This issue summarizes the current state-of-the-art in diagnosing, treating, and preventing this potentially fatal disease so that cardiologists can offer the best current treatment to their patients.