Could you help us frame hypertension at a high level and why it still matters so much in modern clinical practice?

Yes, I'd be happy to.

So hypertension is very important in clinical practice.

It is currently defined by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association as a blood pressure of 130 over 80 millimeters of mercury or higher.

And it remains one of the most important and most prevalent risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

From a physiological standpoint, we know that chronically elevated blood pressure places continuous stress on one's arterial system.

And over time, that stress contributes to a number of physiological changes, such as endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, left ventricular hypertrophy.

Dr. Caceres, I'd like to stay with you as we transition to a discussion of the key modifiable drivers of poor blood pressure control and why they matter from a physiologic standpoint.