High Blood Pressure Medication
Blood pressure moves the blood through your body from the arteries, where the pressure is high, through the organs and into the veins, where the pressure becomes low. The power behind this movement of blood is generated by the pumping action of your heart as well as resistance to the flow of blood by your arteries.
Systolic blood pressure (which is the top number of your blood pressure) represents the pressure in your arteries occurring as the muscle of the heart contracts, sending blood into your arterial system. The diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) represents the pressure in your arteries once the muscle of the heart has relaxed.
A standard blood pressure reading for healthy adults is usually below 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, or 120/80. Nonetheless, age and medical history should always be taken into account since older people tend to naturally have higher blood pressure readings.
Because there is no known cure for hypertension, treatment for high blood pressure is normally a life-long process. And while modifying your lifestype can be an excellent way of reducing your blood pressue without the need to take medication, your doctor will often prescribe a combination of lifestyle modification and medication for optimal effect.
Medicinal Cures For Hypertension
Medications used to treat hypertension or high blood pressure, are called anti-hypertensives. There are several types or classes of anti-hypertensive drugs used to treat high blood pressure. Each type of drug affects a person's blood pressure in a different manner.
After careful consideration, your doctor will choose an anti-hypertensive medication that's best for a person of your age, medical history and any other medical factors he feels are relevant.
For instance, many people with high blood pressure have swelling in their ankles because of a build up of fluid in their body. Therefore your doctor may prescribe a diurectic (often referred to as a "water pill") to enable this excess fluid to be flushed out of your body when urinating. This then reduces the blood volume in the body and helps reduce your blood pressure.
Other types of anti-hypertensive medicines assist in relaxing tight blood vessels, which helps the flow of blood run more smoothly.
A person with Stage 1 or Stage 2 hypertension will usually require two or more types of medicines to control his or her high blood pressure.
Types of Blood Pressure Medications
Diuretics
Diuretics work in the kidney to flush excess water and minerals from the body. However, they do require careful monitoring, since it's easy to overdose and deplete the body of important minerals.
Beta-Blockers
Beta-blockers decrease nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels. This helps the heart beat slower and less forcefully. The blood pressure then drops to a more acceptable level and the work of the heart is eased.
ACE Inhibitors
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors avoid the formation of a hormone called angiotensin II. This hormone usually causes blood vessels to narrow, which then forces the blood pressure to often rise to dangerous levels. ACE inhibitors cause the vessels to relax to a point where your blood pressure can be maintained at a more acceptable level.
Angiotensin Antagonists
Angiotensin antagonists also protect blood vessels from angiotensin II. This ensures the blood vessels become wide enough for the blood to flow smoothly and helps reduce your blood pressure.
Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs)
CCBs prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels. This causes blood vessels to relax, allowing your blood pressure to drop to a more acceptable level.
Alpha-Blockers
These lessen nerve impulses to blood vessels. This then allows blood to pass through the arteries more easily, causing a blood pressure reduction.
Alpha-Beta-Blockers
Alpha-beta-blockers work in a similar way to alpha-blockers. However, they also slow down the heartbeat, as beta-blockers do. This means less blood is pumped through the blood vessels.
Nervous System Inhibitors
These relax the blood vessels by controlling and monitoring nerve impulses. This causes the blood vessels to become wider so the blood can flow more easily. This then encourages the blood pressure to drop.
Vasodilators
These work by opening up the blood vessels. They relax muscles in the blood vessel walls. However vasodilators can have side effects, one of which is severe headaches.
Free Report
Blood Pressue Health - a free report detailing everything you need to know to understand your blood pressure, including symptoms of high blood pressure, how to take your blood pressure, common medications for high blood pressure, and more. To get your free copy, simply click on the image:
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