History

• People with hypertension, or high blood pressure, are often at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to the American Heart Association (AHA). The higher the blood pressure, the greater this risk is for developing CVD. Plotting hypertension with CDV mortality on a graph results in a J-shaped curve.
  
  

Significance

• The J-curve phenomenon refers to the fact that people with exceptionally low blood pressure may also have an increased risk of developing and dying from CVD. According to the AHA, people in this group my have other qualities that lead to CVD which are unrelated to blood pressure.
  
  

Considerations

• The American Heart Association recommends that high blood pressure be treated according to the national guidelines and by a licensed health care provider, as treating hypertension is in the best interest of the patient.