What defines resistant hypertension?

Resistant hypertension is defined by the persistence of high blood pressure despite the use of a sufficient regimen of antihypertensive medications. Specifically, it refers to cases where blood pressure remains above the target level despite adherence to a minimum of three antihypertensive agents of different classes. This condition is significant because it suggests that the hypertension may be more challenging to manage, possibly due to factors such as medication resistance, secondary causes of hypertension, or inadequate treatment strategies.

In this context, the other options do not accurately capture the essence of resistant hypertension. For instance, effective responsive hypertension (the first option) implies good control of blood pressure with medications, which is the opposite of the phenomenon being described. The possibility of hypertension only occurring at night (the third option) refers more to nocturnal hypertension rather than resistance to medications. Lastly, hypertension that resolves with lifestyle changes (the fourth option) suggests a situation where non-pharmacological interventions are sufficient for blood pressure control, further diverging from the definition of resistant hypertension where medication is necessary but not effective.