ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the assessment of medical history, physical examination, blood pressure (BP) level evaluation and routine diagnostic tests in relation to confirmation of the diagnosis of hypertension, detection of secondary forms of hypertension and assessment of cardiovascular risk. Various symptoms related to identifiable causes of hypertension can be obtained from a medical history assessment. In women, use of oral contraceptives and hormonal replacement therapy should be evaluated including type, dose, formulation, duration of use and relationship with increases in BP. Women. Estimation of fasting plasma glucose concentration is recommended in each patient with newly diagnosed arterial hypertension. Evaluation of kidney function is recommended in all patients with arterial hypertension. Estimation of serum sodium and potassium concentration is mandatory in each patient with newly diagnosed arterial hypertension. Measurement of serum uric acid concentration belongs to the list of routine laboratory tests which should be performed on each subject with arterial hypertension.
