Normal blood pressure has a systolic reading less than 120 and a diastolic less than 80. (Although normal can vary from person to person. Hypertension is a systolic reading of 140 or more or a diastolic reading of 90 or more.
Treatment of hypertension includes:
o Weight loss (even a few pounds can help)
o Exercise
o dietary changes
o Medicines
Currently there are eight types of medications used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).
1. Central acting medications - they directly affect your nervous system to reduce nerve signals that cause contraction of blood vessels. An example is clonidine.
2. Diuretics - they are better known as “water pills”. It helps your body eliminate excess water in your body by urinating. Examples are furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide.
3. Straight vasodilators - relax the walls of blood vessels. muscles - so expanding them. Examples are minoxidil and hydralazine.
4. Angiotensin inhibitors - converting enzymes - this keeps your body from forming a hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict. Examples - lisinopril, quinapril and benazepril (and other drugs with the end of the word = ... adj)
5. Beta blockers - it slows the heart rate. This leads to a decrease in the load on the walls of blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Examples include: atenolol, propranolol, and carvedilol (and other drugs with the ending of the word = .... olol
6. Angiotensin II receptor blockers - they protect your body from the hormone that causes blood vessels to shrink. Examples are irbesartan, candesartan, and olmesartan (and other drugs with the ending of the word = ..... sartan).
7. Calcium channel blockers - they keep blood vessels from narrowing, keeping calcium from getting into your bodies. Examples are diltiazem, felodipine, nicardipine and verapamil.
8. Alpha-blockers - it helps relax blood vessels, reducing nerve signals. Examples are doxazosin, terazosin and prazosin (and other drugs with the ending of the word = .... zosin).
If you get a new prescription from your doctor, be sure to take the medicine as prescribed.
