Hypertension – what’s new from NICE’s updated guidance?

Nurses working in general practice will often be involved in the diagnosis and management of hypertension, so it is important to be aware of the latest guidance, in order to act effectively as the patient’s advocate. In August 2019, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) updated its guidance on hypertension and included some changes with respect to both diagnosis and appropriate management strategies. In this article, we consider when hypertension should be suspected, how the diagnosis would be confirmed and which lifestyle and pharmacological interventions are most effective in different populations. After reading and reflecting upon it you should be able to: