Is it true that bp meds just treat the symptom and don't address the cause which most say is atherosclerosis and that cv risk is minimally reduced?

No.: True cause of high BP is in most cases unknown, probably multifactorial and not atherosclerosis. Elevated BP is a "sign" and has no "symptoms." AKA "the silent killer." BP meds treat systems that raise blood pressure . CV benefit depends upon other risk factors you may have. Suffice it to say that the big three modifiable risk factors are high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking