Senile hypertension: Risk factors, and as risk factor itself

Hypertension is widespread amongst the elderly, affecting more than 50% of them, with a progressive age related increase, in prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension. All the hypertension risk factors are analysed, whereas a primary role should be assigned to congenital changes in cellular sodium transport systems, manifesting by the aging, in the presence of modulating factors as hyperinsulinism. The importance of antihypertensive therapy with calcium-channel blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to prevent cardiovascular disease, is confirmed in elderly patients.