Hypertension
Medication
The following
types of hypertension medication are
available:
ACE
inhibitors: Angiotensin converting enzyme
(ACE) inhibitors prevent the formation of a hormone called
angiotensin II, which normally causes blood vessels to
narrow. The ACE inhibitors cause the
vessels to relax and blood pressure goes down.
Diuretics:
Diuretics are sometimes called water pills because
they work in the kidney and flush excess water and sodium from
the body, lowering blood pressure.
Beta-blockers:
Beta-blockers reduce nerve impulses to the heart and
blood vessels. This makes the heart beat slower and with less
force. As a result of these drugs, the blood pressure drops and
the heart works less hard.
Alpha-blockers:
Alpha-blockers reduce nerve impulses to blood vessels,
which allows blood to pass more easily, causing the blood
pressure to go down.
Angiotensin
antagonists: Angiotensin antagonists shield
blood vessels from angiotensin II. As a
result, the vessels become wider and blood pressure goes
down.
Calcium channel
blockers (CCBs): CCBs keep calcium from
entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood
vessels. This causes the blood vessels to
relax and pressure goes down.
Alpha-beta-blockers:
Alpha-beta-blockers work the same way as alpha-blockers
but also slow the heartbeat, as beta-blockers
do. As a result of using these drugs, less
blood is pumped through the vessels and the blood pressure goes
down.
Nervous system
inhibitors: Nervous system inhibitors relax
blood vessels by controlling nerve impulses, and this causes
the blood vessels to become wider and the blood pressure to go
down.
Vasodilators:
Vasodilators directly open blood vessels by relaxing the
muscles in the vessel walls, causing the blood pressure to go
down.
See also - aspirin and high blood
pressure
Also read about - natural
remedies for high blood pressure
Blood pressure is the
force of the blood pushing against the walls of the
arteries.
It is usually agreed
amongst medical professionals that somewhere between 110/70
mmHg and 125/80 mmHg is considered to be an average, acceptable
blood pressure for an adult person, though someone with
naturally low blood pressure may be closer to a range of 100/60
mmHg
There are no hard and
fast figures that determine what represents a ‘normal’ blood
pressure. Very often doctors and other experts cannot decide
between them what an ideal blood pressure range is for an
adult.
A blood pressure of
140/90 mmHg is considered to be high, though it becomes nearer
to the ‘normal’ as a person grows older. Evidence and research
has shown that blood pressure levels do increase with age and
this does not necessarily mean there will be serious health
problems.
It is important to take
steps to keep your blood pressure under
control. The treatment goal is to keep blood
pressure below 140/90, or even lower for people with other
conditions, such as diabetes and kidney
disease.
Adopting healthy
lifestyle habits is an essential and effective first step in
both preventing and controlling high blood
pressure. However, if lifestyle changes
alone are not effective in keeping your pressure controlled, it
may be necessary to take blood pressure
medications.
To find out if you have
hypertension consult your doctor and have a blood pressure
test. The test is quick and
painless.
To determine which life
style changes and medications are appropriate, consult your
doctor.
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