We may control it ‘better’ than in other countries-but we have still failed to control it to the point that risk of significant cardiac insult has been brought to the point where it should be-given our resources to do so-our effete posturing that our medical schools are innately better-and our snobby attitude that our system is superior to systems of education elsewhere.

Don’t kid yourself-Plenty of American hypertensives and diabetics are running around improperly treated.

The average American GP isn’t even sure what level to maintain and what drug combination works best-despite being detailed and given access to many sessions of inservice and cme conferences on the subject.

Uncontrolled hypertension in the perioperative population is rampant. And it’s not because-as most doctors claim- of the anxiety associated with being in the office or the OR. It’s this same attitude which prevents these same doctors from managing the problem effectively.

I don’t care how anxious you are for your outpatient hernia repair-your BP shouldn’t be 160/95. Unless your cuff belongs to a Liliputian.