The sympathetic nervous system as a target for the treatment of hypertension and cardiometabolic diseases.

The regulation of blood pressure by the sympathetic nervous system is reviewed with an emphasis on the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the development and maintenance of hypertension. Evidence from patients and animal models is summarized. Because it is clear that there is a neural contribution to many types of human hypertension and other cardiometabolic diseases, the case is presented for a renewed emphasis on the development of sympatholytic approaches for the treatment of hypertension and other conditions associated with hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system.