In 2003, the Joint National Committee on Prevention,
Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure
(JNC) issued its seventh report, which provided guidelines for
the diagnosis and management of this disease. Included in the
guidelines were: a new classifi cation system for hypertension;
recommendations for lifestyle modifi cations; and recommendations
for pharmacologic therapy. New JNC guidelines
are expected in 2009, but until then, and to understand the
forthcoming changes in recommendations, it is important to
revisit and review those of JNC 7.