TWO YEARS ago I wrote a philippic regarding the egregious errors involved in measuring blood pressure (BP) and in treating hypertension. Little or nothing has been accomplished by my scolding. Most students of the subject have not seen fit to collect the evidence; consequently, I have no epidemiologic study or comprehensive statistics to prove my point. One useful article written by John Askey, MD, of Los Angeles, elaborating on some of the errors, could not find a publisher; hence, a private printing.
I attribute some of the indifference to government and private "educational programs" designed to dispense with any need for professional management or understanding of high BP. In brief, the thesis is that any amateur can measure BP and treat his own hypertension if he has it. Follow the printed directions on the drug package and the disease will soon be under good control.
This utter nonsense shows how