SummaryThe systemic arterial pressure is determined by 1) the cardiac output, 2) the blood volume, and 3) the total peripheral resistance.A triple antihypertensive therapy is therefore considered which interferes primarily with these three factors using 1) beta adrenergic blocking agents, 2) a low sodium diet and diuretics, and 3) vasodilating antihypertensive drugs. The hae-modynamic changes during this therapy are described.Since cardiac output, resistance and blood volume cannot be determined routinely in all hypertensive patients, a therapeutic regimen is discussed based on the determination of 1) rate, 2) body weight and 3) arterial blood pressure.