In preparing these guidelines the Committee established by the European Society of Hypertension (ESH)
and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has
aimed at offering the best available and most balanced
information to all those involved in the management of
arterial hypertension. The Committee is aware that it is
easier to prepare guidelines on a medical condition in
general than to deal with the individual patients with
that condition requiring medical advice and intervention. Because of this awareness, the Committee has
tried to avoid giving rigid rules that would constrain
judgement on the management of individual patients
differing in their personal, medical and cultural characteristics.
