Hypertension remains the dominant risk factor for premature cardiovascular disease worldwide [1,2]. It increases the short- and long-term risk of a variety of cardiovascular complications, including stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and peripheral vascular disease [1,2]. In particular, even acute elevations in blood pressure (BP) can result in acute end-organ damage with significant morbidity and potentially fatal target-organ damage [3].
