Abstract: The invention is in the field of molecular diagnosis of medical diseases and their treatment. More in particular, it provides methods and means for detecting hypertension, more in particular essential primary hypertension, even more in particular NOX5-dependent hypertension. The invention also provides methods for the treatment of hypertension, in particular essential primary hypertension, more in particular NOX5-dependent hypertension. The invention also provides theragnostics, wherein therapy is combined with diagnosis, more in particular wherein the level of NOX5 is determined in a sample from a subject and wherein the subject is treated with NOX5 inhibitors or compounds that decrease the levels of NOX5 if the NOX5 levels are above a certain threshold value.