Epidemiology of Hypertension

Handbook of Hypertension 20, Epidemiology of Hypertension, is the updated version of the 1985 edition. Also edited by Professor C.J. Bulpitt, the reborn volume puts emphasis on clinical epidemiology. However, the field of hypertension has steadily progressed over the years and the areas of interests have rapidly diversified. This book answers the what, who, where, when, and why of hypertension. Differences between the contents of the two editions include thorough revisions and supplementations and new information gathered over the past 15 years. Although there is considerable progress in this area, exciting challenges still remain in terms of understanding the problems of hypertension. This volume emphasises the knowledge we have gained and the problems that remain. Nowhere is this questioning approach more obvious than in the chapters concerning the etiology of essential hypertension. No attempt has been made to suppress conflicting views and the reader and time must judge the validity of the varied texts. Alcohol, sodium, potassium, calcium, fat and trace metals maintain their importance in the Section on nutrition but when considering the mechanisms of blood pressure increase we now have to consider genetics in detail, the clustering of risk factors and the effects of sleep disturbances. Many other differences exist between this volume and the original. Absolute risk is introduced and systolic compared with diastolic pressure as a risk indicator. The measurement of blood pressure is now recognised as of great importance with a whole section devoted to sphygmomanometry, ambulatory and home blood pressure measurement. When considering environmental effects, psychosocial factors are dealt with under migration and acculturation, physical activity remains important and the intrauterine effects on blood pressure are now considered.Bulpitt, C. J. is the author of 'Epidemiology of Hypertension' with ISBN 9780444827791 and ISBN 044482779X.