In summary, if an individual’s hypertension is strictly a matter of genetics and lifestyle, and has nothing to do with psychological factors, I generally employ a diuretic or an ACEI (or ARB), or a combination of the two. Alternatively, I use a calcium channel blocker. These drugs, alone or in combination, should control hypertension in most cases. However, when the hypertension is psychologically linked, patients respond less well to these drugs, and it makes more sense to employ drugs that block the effects of the SNS, such as the alpha and beta blockers.
