Today's Perspective
Kristin Wiisanen PharmD, FAPhA, FCCP, Pharmacy Today editor in chief
Hypertension is one of the most modifiable, but persistently undertreated, conditions affecting Americans today. Despite decades of research and clear evidence of risk reduction, only about one in four U.S. adults with hypertension have adequately controlled BP according to the American Heart Association.
Updated guidelines, released in August 2025, renew the call to action—emphasizing early and sustained management of hypertension to prevent not only CVD but also cognitive decline and dementia. This shift highlights that managing BP is no longer just about the heart. It’s about preserving the brain and quality of life across decades of aging.
This month’s Pharmacy Today cover story takes a deep dive into this recent guidance. For frontline pharmacists, these updates reinforce the vital, ongoing role of our profession in the fight against hypertension. The new PREVENT risk calculator replaces the familiar ASCVD tool, integrating a broader spectrum of data that includes social determinants of health and long-term cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic risks. By using this resource with patients, pharmacists can personalize conversations, helping patients understand how daily choices and medication adherence directly affect long-term outcomes. As pharmacists, we are uniquely positioned to translate population-level data into patient-level action, often during those brief but impactful moments at the pharmacy counter or in a clinic.
In this issue of, you’ll find an update on the benefits of berberine supplements, FDA’s recent updates to opioid labels, and how changes to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations affect pharmacies. You can also learn about the latest actions FDA has taken to address unapproved thyroid supplements and the value of pharmacy test-and-treat services for patients with respiratory illness. Don’t miss an opportunity to catch up on your CPE credit with this month’s article on AI and medication safety.
Hypertension management is, as the recent guidelines remind us, a team effort, and pharmacists are indispensable members of that team. Whether identifying patients with uncontrolled hypertension, recommending medication optimization, or providing education on home monitoring and lifestyle modification, our daily interventions collectively drive health improvement. Every accurate reading, every follow-up conversation, every moment spent explaining a number on a monitor adds up to real, measurable change. Together, pharmacists and patients can turn the tide on hypertension—one conversation, one reading, one success story at a time. ■