This paper is the written version of the conference that under the same title was presented in the XXX Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología. In the paper, the topic of arterial hypertension (AHT) in Spain is approached from different perspectives, as well as to what extend cardiologists influence or are influenced by it. First, there is a brief overview concerning the diagnostic and therapeutic status of AHT in the population, and its evolution in the last years. The paper continues analyzing the research on AHT sponsored by the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria in recent years, and emphasizes the little participation of cardiologists as principal investigators in this area. Next, publications in Spanish and international scientific journals are assessed. To end the paper, a proposal of the possible role of the cardiologist on diagnosis, treatment, continued education and research on hypertension is presented.