MEDICAL SCIENCES
High Heart Rate in Hypertension What should the clinician do in patients with tachycardia? Resting Heart Rate (RHR) is a strong predictor of metabolic abnormalities, hypertension, and diabetes. In addition, fast RHR is a major risk factor for development of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. In hypertensive patients with high RHR, a combination therapy that includes a cardiac slowing drug seems a sensible strategy. Paolo Palatini, Department of Medicine, University of Padova
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he Resting Heart Rate (RHR) represents a reliable marker of autonomic nervous system tone. High RHR is due to sympatho-adrenergic predominance reflecting increased sympathetic discharge and reduced vagal activity, a condition that is genetically determined. RHR is a strong predictor of future hypertension, obesity, metabolic abnormalities, and diabetes.
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A SI A N H O S P I T A L & H EA LT HCAR HCA R E M A N AGE M E N T
IS S UE - 51, 2021
