Hypertension and diabetes are the basic risk factors of atherosclerosis and its complications. At present new associations are sought which will enable us to describe more satisfactorily the mutual relationship of hypertension, metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease. One of the systems involved in all substantial physiological processes is the autonomic nervous system. Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system by chronic stress causes in addition to an elevated pulse rate and cardiac minute output also activation of another important pressor mechanism--the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system plays a part also in the development of impaired glucose and lipid metabolism, which are very frequent in hypertonic subjects. Hyperinsulinaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and reduced HDL-cholesterol concentration are associated with a decline of the insulin capacity to take up glucose and deposit glycogen and together with a raised blood pressure create the so-called metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance (syndrome X, Reaven's syndrome).