Primary prevention of essential hypertension

Despite progress in recent years in prevention, detection, and treatment of high blood pressure, hypertension remains an important public health challenge. Primary prevention of hypertension provides an avenue to interrupt and prevent the continuing costly cycle of managing this disease and its complications. This article reviews the new recommendation for classification of hypertension, updated information on the incidence of hypertension, and an overview of lifestyle interventions for primary prevention of this chronic disease.