The systemic arterial pressure is determined by 1) the cardiac output, 2) the blood volume, and 3) the total peripheral resistance. A triple antihypertensive therapy is therefore considered which interferes primarily with these three factors using 1) beta adrenergic blocking agents, 2) a low sodium diet and diuretics, and 3) vasodilating antihypertensive drugs. The hae-modynamic changes during this therapy are described. Since cardiac output, resistance and blood volume cannot be determined routinely in all hypertensive patients, a therapeutic regimen is discussed based on the determination of 1) rate, 2) body weight and 3) arterial blood pressure.
Keywords: Antihypertensive therapy; Beta blockers; Cardiac output; Diuretics; Exercice; Hypertension; Plasma renin activity; Sodium; Total peripheral resistance; Vasodilators.