CLINICAL HYPERTENSION
AND VASCULAR DISEASES

Hypertension and Stroke: Pathophysiology and Management reviews the pathophysiologic relationship between hypertension and cerebrovascular disease and the management
of blood pressure in a variety of settings such as primary stroke prevention, acute ischemic
and hemorrhagic stroke, secondary stroke prevention, and vascular cognitive impairment.
Hypertension is one of the most important global public health challenges, and there is a
close linkage between hypertension and cerebrovascular disease. Hypertension is the most
significant modifiable risk factor for cerebrovascular disease. The importance of adequately
treating elevated blood pressure in the primary prevention of stroke and management of
cerebrovascular disease is widely accepted. It is estimated that about 25% and up to 50% of
strokes could be prevented by blood pressure control. In the course of clinical practice, however, questions arise about the management of blood pressure in the acute, subacute, and
chronic phases of stroke. For example, when is it safe to initiate blood pressure-lowering
therapy after acute ischemic stroke? Is it dangerous to lower blood pressure in elderly persons who have had a stroke? What is the blood pressure-lowering target after a stroke has
occurred to maximize recurrent stroke prevention? Which blood pressure-lowering agents
are most efficacious and safe for persons who have had a stroke or for those in the general
population to prevent a first stroke? In this book we explore answers to these and many
more important aspects of hypertension and stroke. In recent years, several large clinical
trials which address blood pressure management for cerebrovascular disease have been
published. In this book we have attempted to collate and synthesize this rapidly expanding
knowledge base in a form that can be easily accessed and utilized by treating physicians.