Hypertension is the most common cause of increased risk for heart and vascular disease in the adult population. Both men and women are at risk for hypertension and both benefit from antihypertensive therapy. However, hypertension tends to be less prevalent in women and is better tolerated; hypertensive women have fewer strokes and hean attacks than do hypertensive men. Women may develop reversible hypertension due to use of birth control pills. Another form of curable secondary hypertension, renal artery stenosis caused by fibromuscular dysplasia, is much more frequent in young women than men. Antihypertensive drug treatment for severe hypertension benefits both sexes, although clinical trials establishing this have been conducted only in men. There is no proof that white women with mild hypertension benefit from antihypertensive drug therapy. Nondrug approaches including weight reduction, change in diet, and exercise may be equally beneficial.