Cortisol Secretion, Sensitivity and Activity and Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria: * Hypertension group: arterial hypertension * No hypertension group: absence of arterial hypertension Exclusion Criteria: * body mass index (BMI) \>30 kg/m2 * active smoking (\>20 cigarettes/day) * pregnancy/lactation * hypertension associated with family history of hypertension and cerebrovascular events before 40 years of age * sleep apnea * hypertension appearance in pre-pubertal age * hypokalemia * hypertension in the setting of an incidental adrenal mass * classic signs and symptoms of hypercortisolism (lunar facies, striae, hypertrichosis, skin atrophy, hump) * proven endocrine hypertension (pheochromocytoma, hyperaldosteronism, hyperparathyroidism, acromegaly, hyperthyroidism) * renovascular hypertension * diseases or conditions associated with increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis and/or oxidative stress, such as type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, severe rheumatic/autoimmune diseases, severe hematological diseases, alcoholism, depressive syndrome, chronic renal failure (GFR \<45 ml/min), severe hypovitaminosis D (25OHvitaminD \<10 ng/dL) * therapies that interfere with the activity of the HPA axis (i.e. glucocorticoids, antidepressants).