SummaryArterial hypertension is a very common disease, and one of the main causes of death in our countries. In the early stages, this disease is completely asymptomatic and thus the diagnosis can only be made by systematic examinations.How to treat, it is a problem which can only be solved if a certain amount of information is obtained. The physician must find out if other risk factors of atherosclerosis are involved: hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, cigarette smoking, etc. He must also look for complications of high blood pressure with respect to the heart, the kidneys, the arteries and the brain. All these parameters may affect the decision and the choice of the treatment.The first step of treatment must be the research for curable causes of hypertension. However, from data obtained during the last few years, we know that surgical causes of hypertension are unusual: less than 10% of the patients in a reference centre. In most of the case, the patient should be treated with drugs.