[Affective temperaments (cyclothymic, hypertymic, depressive, anxious, irritable) are stable parts of personality and after adolescent only their minor changes are detectable. Their connections with psychopathology is well-described; depressive temperament plays role in major depression, cyclothymic temperament in bipolar II disorder, while hyperthymic temperament in bipolar I disorder. Moreover, scientific data of the last decade suggest, that affective temperaments are also associated with somatic diseases. Cyclothymic temperament is supposed to have the closest connection with hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension is higher parallel with the presence of dominant cyclothymic affective temperament and in this condition the frequency of cardiovascular complications in hypertensive patients was also described to be higher. In chronic hypertensive patients cyclothymic temperament score is positively associated with systolic blood pressure and in women with the earlier development of hypertension. The background of these associations is probably based on the more prevalent presence of common risk factors (smoking, obesity, alcoholism) with more pronounced cyclothymic temperament. The scientific importance of the research of the associations of personality traits including affective temperaments with somatic disorders can help in the identification of higher risk patient subgroups.]

[The most important features of the new European joint hypertension guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and European Society of Cardiology became available as lectures at the ESH meeting in Barcelona, in 2018 June, while the publication came out in the Journal of Hypertension and also in the European Heart Journal in August, 2018. Based on the published new guidelines I summarise its most important therapeutic suggestions.]

[The benefit of blood pressure lowering to high risk cardiovascular patients is proven. Thiazides are first line agents of blood pressure lowering treatment. Indapamide has both thiazide-like and vasodilator effects. Randomized controlled trials have shown that slow release indapamide of 1.5 mg efficiently lowers blood pressure, as well as the risk of various cardiovascular events (left ventricular hypertrophy, secondary stroke, progression of nephropathy etc.). Due to the low dose, the drug is well tolerated. Slow release indapamide is therefore an ideal choice as monotherapy for the beginning of blood pressure lowering treatment, and it is also a base drug of combination treatments.]

[Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is defined as an increase in the mass of the left ventricle. In addition to the absolute increase in mass, the geometric pattern of LVH also may be important. LVH can be secondary to an increase in wall thickness, an increase in cavity size, or both. LVH as a consequence of hypertension usually presents with an increase in wall thickness. This increase in mass predominantly results from a chronic increase in afterload of LV caused by the hypertension, although there is also a genetic component. A significant increase in the number and/or size of sarcomeres is the main pathologic mechanism, but hypertension may also result in interstitial fibrosis. The estimation of mass is commonly derived from measurements obtained by echocardiography. LVH is associated with increased incidence of systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction, heart failure, myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, aortic root dilatation, and a cerebrovascular event. The cardiovascular risk is directly related to the degree of mass. The regression of LVH is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular risk and improved cardiac function. Regression of LVH is associated with weight loss, dietary sodium restriction, and use of ACE inhibitors, ARBs, some calcium channel blockers, and some sympatholytic agents.]

[Hypertension and dementia are frequent disorders or rather syndromes. Their incidence is growing with advancing age and hypertension is increasing the risk of cognitive impairment too, while treating hypertension (i.e. the use of antihypertensive medications) is decreasing it. In addition, hypertension is the most important risk factor for stroke. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has a special role in the development of hypertension and also involved in the pathogenesis of the most frequent dementia form, namely Alzheimer’s disease. The effect of angiotensin convertase inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) is based on the inhibition of the RAS, but the ARBs do not inhibit angiotensin formation, just blocking its harmful effects on the AT1 receptor, while allowing the activation of AT2 receptors with pleiotropic effects. Preclinical, epidemiological and clinical therapeutic studies suggest this additional effect of ARBs and these are summarized in this review.]