Essential, primary or idiopathic hypertension is de­fined as a state of blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg, which excludes the secondary forms of hypertension such as renovascular hypertension, renal parenchymal disease, pheochromocytoma, aldosteronism, or monogenic Mendel­lian forms of hypertension. Ninety-five percent of all cases of hypertension belong to the essential hypertension type [1]. Around 20% of adults over 40 years of age have blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg. Their risk for stroke is 100% higher compared to normotensive individuals [2].

Essential hypertension is a multifactorial trait. The large number of intermediate phenotypes of essential hy­pertension appear as a result of a complex interaction of genetic and non genetic factors known as hypertension­ogenic factors, such as increased consumption of salt or alcohol, body mass index (BMI) above 26 kg/m², de­creased physical activity and continuous stress. Hyper­tensinogenic factors should be taught to persons at-risk in order to prevent and control essential hypertension. It is likely that several genes interact with environmental fac­tors to produce high blood pressure in susceptible persons.