What You Should Know About High Blood Pressure Medications

By Sean Davids

High blood pressure is a widespread problem in the United States, but it is likewise a serious one. High blood pressure is a risk factor for concerns like heart attack, stroke and heart disease. When a person is confirmed to have hypertension, a physician's first goal is to reduce the blood pressure to the safe range so additional strain on the cardiovascular system does not occur.

In many instances, the patient is put on a particular diet and fitness routine for hypertension control. But many patients also require pharmaceuticals to keep their blood pressure under control. Here is a look at a few of the most regularly recommended high blood pressure drugs utilized for this objective.

Diuretics: Among the most typical high blood pressure medicines first offered is often a water pill or diuretic. These medications come in commercial names like Zaroxolyn and Esidrix and work by getting rid of excess water and sodium from the blood. The surplus is expelled from your system by way of urination, which is why folks on this drug often need to urinate more frequently. By getting rid of the excess from the bloodstream, the heart can pump it throughout the body more effectively without excessive impact on this important organ.

Beta Blockers and ACE Inhibitors: These high blood pressure drugs might be prescribed if diuretics aren't effective or they can be used in combination with a diuretic for better results. In many cases, these drugs might also be the first line of protection against high blood pressure. These drugs work by increasing blood flow through the blood vessels, consequently decreasing strain on the heart.

Other Options: If these high blood pressure medications do not work, there are other choices available. Angiotensin II receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers and other drugs can be used when the more common hypertension medications do not work well by themselves or lead to undesirable side effects. It's very important that a patient and health care provider act together when going through the long list of hypertension medications to discover the ones that work the best in each particular circumstance. In some instances, a person will be fortunate enough to find the perfect medicine the first time. In other cases, it might take numerous tries to unearth the perfect therapy.

High blood pressure is a dangerous medical disorder that can have potentially life-threatening consequences if left untreated. Fortunately, there are many choices in high blood pressure medication to get the problem in check and minimize the risk of more critical problems. - 31820

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