The Dizzying Array of High Blood Pressure Medications
Having hypertension does not have to be a death sentence, although that first diagnosis can be a shocker to you. With positive lifestyle changes, you could turn your health around and lower your blood pressure readings to a healthier level. However, when those positive life changes are not enough, high blood pressure medications fill in the gap to get your readings where they need to be.
There are quite a few high blood pressure medications on the market these days and each one approaches high blood pressure in a different way, although the primary goal is the same - lowering your readings. Your level of hypertension will often dictate the type of drugs your doctor will prescribe and you will be instructed to take them the same time every day so you can better detect side effects, if any.
Diuretics and Beta Blockers
Diuretic high blood pressure medications help your kidneys filter out excess salt and fluids, thereby reducing the volume in your blood. When the volume is high, your heart has to pump harder to keep blood flow which in turn raises blood pressure. With beta blockers, they ease the stress on your heart by slowing the heartbeat and reducing the force of it which make these types of drugs a great pairing with diuretics.
Ace and Renin Inhibitors
The inhibitor line of high blood pressure medications obviously block components which stress out the heart causing a higher blood pressure. With ace inhibitors, these relax the blood vessels by blocking a chemical from forming which cause constriction. With rennin inhibitors, these drugs help reduce a chemical called rennin formed in the kidneys which kick off a chain reaction of events that increase blood pressure. Both of these inhibitors work best when paired with other high blood pressure medications.
Other Blockers
Additional high blood pressure medications come in the form of other blockers like calcium channel blockers and angiotensin II receptor blockers. With the calcium channel blockers, these drugs work to relax your muscles, especially in the blood vessels so that there is better blood flow and the heart does not have to pump so hard to get oxygenated blood throughout your body. The angiotensin version also relaxes the blood vessels by obstructing the action of the angiotensin chemical which narrows blood vessels, thereby causing the heart to pump harder to get blood flowing.
There are other high blood pressure medications that serve as blocking agents and your doctors will prescribe them as they deem necessary and if other drugs do not help. Be patient, as it could be months before you and your doctor strike upon a winning cocktail of medications that help keep your blood pressure down.