Although hypertension was defined more than 100 years ago, it remains the leading cause of office visits and use of prescription drugs. Because hypertension is one of the major risk factors for premature death and disability, the medical community continues to strive toward more aggressive detection, follow-up, and treatment. The Fifth Report of the Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure provides an excellent guide for all health practitioners. This publication, along with several recent articles, have provided a comprehensive approach to the hypertensive patient. Although cerebrovascular events have been dramatically reduced by the treatment of hypertension, results regarding cardiac morbidity and mortality have been disappointing. Therefore, from a cardiologists' standpoint, the concept of cardioprotection has evolved into an important component in the treatment of the hypertensive patient.