Can we justify goal blood pressure of <140/90 mm Hg in most hypertensives?

Hypertension is a common disorder with well-recognized consequences on the heart, brain, and kidney as target organs. Guidelines espouse a treatment goal of blood pressure reduction to <140 mm Hg for the systolic pressure and <90 mm Hg for the diastolic pressure in most hypertensive patients. In this review, the basis for these recommendations, the practical achievement of these goals in various practice settings, and the risk versus the benefit of achieving such goals in most hypertensive patients are examined.