The article presents an outline of new treatment modalities of hypertension ensuing from results of large clinical studies which compare effectiveness of antihypertensive drugs. It warns of inadequate control of hypertension found both in our country and advanced western European countries, and analyses some of its causes. Treatment of hypertension achieving target values in majority of hypertensive patients might avoid many strokes and myocardial infarctions.

        Key words: hypertension, effectiveness of antihypertensive drugs, myocardial infarction