Topic 1: Arterial Hypertension: Diagnosis, Risk Stratification and Treatment Definition, etiology, pathogenesis, and classification of arterial hypertension. Risk factors. Cardiovascular risk stratification. Target-organ damage. Diagnosis. Principles of treatment. Major classes of antihypertensive drugs. Learning Objectives By the end of the lecture, students should be able to: 1. Define arterial hypertension and describe its epidemiology and clinical significance. 2. Explain the major etiological factors and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying arterial hypertension. 3. Describe the classification of arterial hypertension according to blood pressure levels and clinical characteristics. 4. Identify modifiable and non-modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. 5. Assess and stratify the patient’s overall cardiovascular risk. 6. Recognize the major types of hypertension-mediated target-organ damage, including cardiac, renal, cerebrovascular, vascular, and retinal involvement. 7. Explain the diagnostic approach to arterial hypertension, including office, home, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. 8. Describe the principles of lifestyle modification and pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension. 9. Identify the major classes of antihypertensive drugs, their mechanisms of action, indications, contraindications, and common adverse effects. 10. Recognize hypertensive emergencies and explain the principles of their management.