Hypertension Treatment Decision Support Tool
This is an educational prototype that suggests initial, guideline-concordant therapy for adults with hypertension based on blood pressure stage and key comorbidities. This clinical decision support tool allows you to input patient comorbidities that may sway the treatment recommendations. This tool is intended for healthcare professionals only as it requires background knowledge of how to treat hypertension. Healthcare professionals should confirm the recommendation with formularies, labs, shared decision-making with the patient, and of course, your own expertise.
This Hypertension Treatment Decision Support Tool was developed by Bruce Bassi MD. It was created with the use of AI and the references cited below. You are welcome to submit feedback.
- Prefer thiazide-like diuretics (chlorthalidone/indapamide) over hydrochlorothiazide when a diuretic is chosen.
- Do not combine ACE inhibitor + ARB; avoid beta-blocker + verapamil/diltiazem at initiation.
- Check BMP/creatinine and electrolytes 1–3 weeks after starting ACEi/ARB, diuretics, or MRAs; sooner if CKD.
- Single-pill combinations improve adherence; consider cost/availability.
- This tool is for initial management in adults and is not a substitute for clinical judgment.
- Weight loss if overweight (target 1 kg reduction → ~1 mmHg BP reduction)
- DASH diet (rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy)
- Reduce sodium intake (target <1500 mg/day, minimum 1000 mg reduction)
- Increase potassium intake (3500-5000 mg/day from diet)
- Physical activity: 90-150 min/week aerobic exercise
- Limit alcohol (≤2 drinks/day for males, ≤1 drink/day for females)
A Timeline of Hypertension Treatments
Hypertension has shaped the course of modern medicine more than almost any other chronic disease, and its story spans nearly three centuries of scientific discovery. This interactive timeline walks you through the remarkable evolution of blood pressure diagnosis and treatment—from early arterial cannulations in horses, to the invention of the cuff, to thiazides, ACE inhibitors, renal denervation, and now AI-driven care. Whether you’re a clinician, researcher, patient, or simply curious, this visual journey highlights how each breakthrough changed the way we understand, measure, and manage high blood pressure.
As you scroll through history, you’ll see how medical thinking shifted from humoral theories and bloodletting to evidence-based pharmacology and precision cardiology. Explore the first noninvasive blood-pressure cuffs of the 1890s, the groundbreaking Korotkoff sounds that defined systolic and diastolic pressure, and the mid-century drug revolutions that transformed hypertension from a fatal condition into a manageable lifelong disease. Each point includes context, clinical relevance, and historical sources, allowing you to appreciate how slowly—and how dramatically—progress has unfolded.
In the modern era, the pace accelerates. Landmark trials like SPRINT reshaped treatment targets, device therapies such as renal denervation emerged for resistant hypertension, and artificial intelligence began analyzing patterns that humans can’t detect. This timeline captures the ongoing evolution of hypertension care while offering a clear, compelling way to understand where we’ve been—and where cardiovascular medicine is heading next.
