High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all the tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure does not mean excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily increase blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called “pre-hypertension”, and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high.

There are many causes of high blood pressure, from genetic predisposition to obesity to poor diet, and many other reasons. Some cases are not bad enough to warrant anything more than some suggestions from your doctor about lifestyle and diet choices, while other cases of high blood pressure are so dangerous that you need to be on medication to regulate it. If this is true in your case, here is some simple information to help you better understand commonly prescribed medications:

Diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin antagonists, calcium channel blockers, alpha-blockers, alpha-beta blockers, nervous system inhibitors and vasodilators are the high blood pressure medications that you can take as recommended by your doctor. You can take any of these medications, but often, two or more of these drugs work better than one, as long as they are according to your doctor’s recommendation.

Angiotensin II receptor antagonists

Angiotensin II receptor antagonists, also known as angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) or AT1-receptor antagonists, are a group of pharmaceuticals which modulate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Their main use is in hypertension, diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage due to diabetes) and congestive heart failure. No drugs in this class are currently available in generic formulations. Losartan (Cozaar) is the oldest drug in this class and will most likely be the first of the ARBs to become available generically.

Calcium-channel blockers

These drugs affect the way calcium is used in the blood vessels and heart muscle. This has a relaxing effect on the blood vessels. Again, there are various types and brands. For example, amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, isradipine, lacidipine, lercanidipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nisoldipine, and verapamil. Calcium-channel blockers can also be used to treat angina.

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (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 drops.

Hyzaar

Hyzaar is a medication used mostly to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) by not only lowering blood pressure but it may decrease the risk of stroke in certain hypertension patients. Hyzaar is a combination drug–angiotensen II receptor blocker and diuretic. It works by relaxing the blood vessels and helping the kidneys to get rid of fluid and sodium in the body. It is often referred to as a water pill

Related Blogs

• Live Lead autodial Transfer leads » Blog Archive » Lower Diastolic Blood Pressure Quickly And Safely
• Beetroot juice for blood pressure | Good Healthy Tips

Many individuals are put on medications to control their high blood pressure. Depending greatly on the severity of the blood pressure you might be able to discontinue using the medications with some modifications to your lifestyle and diet.

Many doctors will begin a medicinal treatment with mild medications for high blood pressure and sometimes it might be necessary to start off with a more vigorous medication and slowly work down to a mild one.

Understanding the different types of medications and how they actually treat and benefit the condition is important. Throughout this article you will learn the medications that are used for treating high blood pressure and gaining control over it. Generally, all of the medications that are currently being used for the successful treatment of high blood pressure fall into one of five categories.

The category or type of medication your doctor will put you on will greatly depend on a few factors. Among them are the level of high blood pressure you have, existing medical conditions, current medications you take as well as family medical history. Here are the categories:

* Vasodilators

* Diuretics

* Angiotensin II receptor blockers and ACE inhibitors

* Calcium channel blockers

* Beta-adrenergic blocking agents

Let’s start off by discussing the Vasodilators. These are designed to make the veins and the arteries wider, thus allow the blood to flow a bit more freely. In some circumstances a doctor might prefer to combine another medication with a Vasodilator to get your blood pressure to the ideal level and maintain it.

ACE Inhibitors is the next medication we will briefly discuss. These are among the most popular medications prescribed for treating and stabilizing blood pressure. These are designed to successfully relieve the stress of blood vessel contraction as well as regulate the blood flow and decrease the blood pressure. ACE inhibitors will then convert the hormone that is usually inactive into an active hormone.

The next medication is the Calcium Channel Blockers. These decrease the blood pressure because they relax the blood flow and the vessels themselves. The blood generally is able to flow with ease once the medication gets into the individuals system. The relaxation enhances the flow of the blood without stressing the heart.

Beta blockers or Beta-adrenergic blocking agents are often the first choice for many doctors in treating high blood pressure. Basically, this type of medication will minimize the stress on the heart by limiting the work that is needed to be done by the heart.

The number of beats the heart has to do to make sure the blood is pumping is lowered because the heart no longer has to work as hard. This also decreases the intensity of the heartbeats, thus combining all of this the blood pressure is often successfully modified and reduced to a healthy level.

Mild medications for high blood pressure will be determined generally on an individual patient basis. The prescribing doctor will take into consideration several other health related issues before prescribing the best medication for your blood pressure. Be sure you are giving as much information to your doctor as you can about your medical history and your family medical history.

Alvin Hopkinson is a leading health researcher in the area of natural remedies and high blood pressure treatment. Discover how you can lower high blood pressure naturally using proven and effective home remedies, all without using harmful medications or drugs. Visit his site now at http://www.minusbloodpressure.com

Related Blogs

• Here Are Some Blood Pressure Medications | Orthopaedic Education
• Technology drastically reduces medication errors, but poor history-taking ups mistakes | FavStocks

Normal blood pressure has a systolic reading of less than 120 and a diastolic of less than 80.  (Though normal can vary from person to person.  Ask your doctor or other health care professional what is normal for you).

Hypertension is a systolic reading of 140 OR more or a diastolic reading of 90 or more.

Treatment of hypertension includes:

Loosing weight (even just a few pounds can help)

Exercise

Diet changes

Medications

There are currently eight types of medications used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

Central acting medications – these directly affect your nervous system to reduce nerve signals that cause your blood vessels to constrict.  Example – clonidine.

Diuretics – these are better known as “water pills”.  These help your body eliminate excess water in your body by urinating it out.  Examples – Furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide.

Direct vasodilators – relax the blood vessel walls’ muscles – thus dilating them.  Examples – minoxidil and hydralazine

Angiotensin – converting enzyme inhibitors – these keep your body from producing a hormone that causes the blood vessels to constrict.  Examples – lisinopril, quinapril, and benazepril (and other medications with the ending of the word = …pril)

Beta – blockers – these slow the heart rate.  This causes less force to be exerted on your blood vessel walls and reduces blood pressure.  Examples include – atenolol, propranolol, and carvedilol (and other medications with the ending of the word = ….olol

Angiotensin II receptor blockers – these protects your body from a hormone that causes the blood vessels to constrict.  Examples – irbesartan, candesartan, and olmesartan (and other medications with ending of the word = …..sartan).

Calcium channel blockers – these keep your blood vessels from constricting by keeping calcium from entering your body’s cells.  Examples – diltiazem, felodipine, nicardipine, and verapamil.

Alpha blockers – these help relax blood vessels by reducing nerve signals.  Examples – doxazosin, terazosin, and prazosin (and other medications with the ending of the word = ….zosin).

If you receive a new prescription from your doctor – make sure to take the medication as prescribed.

Related Blogs

• Health Answers » Blog Archive » Hypertension in elderly people who know best what to eat? ? ?
• What are qualities of a good health care worker? | Fatwalrus

Choosing blood pressure medications - This is the biggest dilemma one faces while going through high blood pressure disease. Most of the time your dilemma will be solved by your doctor, his expertise of disease and knowledge of your medical condition will decide what medication is suited best for your body. According to National High Blood Pressure Education Program has recommended established guidelines for high blood pressure. This is a coalition of doctors, professionals, and voluntary organizations and government.

The information about medication mentioned here may differ from what your doctor has advised you. This depend what level of high blood pressure you are having and in what medical condition you are in. There are people with other diseases apart from high blood pressure, in such cases it gets more complicated and this needs to be treated with combination multiple drugs.
Pre-Hypertension (120/80 – 139/89)

This is the stage when one starts developing high blood pressure. There are no major sign, which will tell you that you are having high blood pressure. If this remains undetected, this has chance of growing into high blood pressure. Undetected high blood pressure is dangerous situation and can lead to heart failure and kidney failure.

At this stage with changes in lifestyle focusing on eating and exercise can reduce high blood pressure. Ensure you are in touch with your doctor; proper diet plan and changes in lifestyle will help you in lowering high blood pressure.
Changes needed in your lifestyle are as follows:

1. Low intake of salt and sodium in your diet.
2. Stop smoking.
3. Eat lots of vegetables, fruits and low fat diary products.
4. Excess weight in your body does no good to you; it puts more pressure on heart to pump blood into vessels. Maintain healthy weight.
5. Daily exercise is needed for 30 minutes and more. In the beginning you can break this exercise into 2 or 3 parts spread across the day. There can be many ways you can do exercise, starting with simple brisk walk, dog walking, swimming, light exercise running etc. Please take doctor’s advice before doing any active exercise.
6. Stop alcohol drinks, no good to your health.

In case you have other diseases along with prehypertension, you might need medication; your doctor will be in better position to advise you about medication.
High blood pressure (140/90 to 159/99)

Stage 1 of diseases

Once your blood pressure numbers are between 140/90 and 159/89 you have progressed from prehypertension to stage 1 high blood pressure. I both numbers (top – systolic and bottom – diastolic) are high or in this range leads to stage 1 of high blood pressure.

At this point your doctor may recommend you trying diuretics. The diuretics are also called water pills. The objective of diuretics is to flush excess water and sodium from the body. The lowering of excess water and sodium helps in lowering the blood pressure and with major changes in lifestyle will help in reducing blood pressure.

Doctor will recommend you medication and changes in lifestyle to control your blood pressure. Depending upon medical condition you might need only diuretic medication with changes in lifestyle to control your blood pressure.

Blood Pressure Drugs:

Calcium Channel Blockers – The goal of the drug is to prevent calcium going into heart and blood vessel, which causes cells to relax and lowers blood pressure.
Beta Blockers – This drug helps in reducing nerve signal to heart and blood vessel, which in turn helps in lowering blood pressure.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme - This drug helps blood vessel to relax and helps blood vessel not to narrow. This drug is also helpful in reducing blood pressure.

Your doctor may recommend you one of these medications to bring down blood pressure. There can be other complications such as one suffering from diabetes etc. In such situation a combination of drug is needed to reduce blood pressure.

High blood pressure (160/100 to Above)

Stage 2 of diseases

Now if your blood pressure numbers are falling in the range of 160/100 and above, this is alarming situation. You now are in stage 2 category. At this point your doctor will prescribe you couple of medications to quickly reduce high blood pressure. Even in this case your doctor will start medication with diuretics to flush out excess water and sodium from the body. Keeping your high blood pressure number in view, your doctor will prescribe you more medication to lower blood pressure.
Blood Pressure Drugs:

Beta Blocker – This drug helps in reducing nerve signal to heart and blood vessel, lowering stress on heart helps lowering blood pressure.
ACE inhibitor - This drug helps blood vessel from getting narrow, which lowers pressure on heart and lowers blood pressure.
Calcium Channel Blocker – The drug prevents calcium going into heart and blood vessel. This helps cells to relax and which in turn lowers blood pressure.
Angiotensin II receptor blocker – This medication helps in widening blood vessel and stops hormone called angiotensin from affecting blood vessels.

At such higher elevation blood pressure can cause kidney failure and heart stroke problems. In stage 2 hypertension, aggressive treatment and strong discipline for lifestyle in needed to lower blood pressure.

Take control of your medical situation by consulting doctor in early stages and bringing changes in your lifestyle. The medication and changes in lifestyle go hand in hand; strong discipline will surely lower blood pressure. Lastly monitor your blood pressure, at least 2-3 times a day. Do not depend entirely on this blood monitoring equipment and at no point discard visit to Doctor. Your doctor is best to judge your medical situation. The statistics have shown that a combination of good drugs and changes in lifestyle have helped patient to lower blood pressure.

Related Blogs

• How You Can take care of skin with Proper Diet? | Natural Health | Herbal Health
• dalineyloi » Blog Archive » Blood Pressure Medication Side Effects and Alternative Treatments

All blood pressure medication should lower blood pressure but in addition they can produce some undesirable side effects. Type of medication alter basic body functions not only in the blood vessels but in the nervous system and kidneys as well. Because all of the systems in the body are interconnected even drugs that effect only one type of molecule in the body will produce some type of side effect.

Beta Blockers:

A common type of blood pressure medication like beta blockers are used to control cardiac arrhythmia or irregular heart beat. Beta blockers limit the ability of the heart to beat faster and as a result they reduce the ability of a person to exercise. Fatigue and the ability to react to the basic flight or fight response during an emergency situation is severely reduced. In June of 2006 the United Kingdom downgraded the use of beta-blockers for the elderly because of the increased risk of provoking type 2 diabetes. Other drugs were found to be much better in controlling high blood pressure.

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors:

Lisinopril is in a class of drugs called angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. It is used to lower blood pressure by decreasing certain chemicals in the blood that tighten the blood vessels. In other words, lisinopril will dilate the blood vessels so blood flows more smoothly and the heart can pump blood more efficiently using less pressure. It is also used to treat congestive heart failure and to improve the survival rate after a heart attack. The most common side effect of Lisinopril is a violent, non-productive cough, dizziness, fatigue and flue like symptoms. Another side effect, though not very common but it is dangerous is a pounding or uneven heartbeat.

Diuretics:

Diuretics are used to treat blood pressure problems by stimulating the kidneys to flush excess fluid and sodium from the human body. Less blood volume allows the heart to move the blood easier throughout the body. Loss of potassium, dry mouth and dehydration are the most common side effects of diuretics.

Calcium Channel Blockers:

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) keeps the blood vessels and heart from absorbing calcium which causes the blood vessels to relax. Calcium causes the heart to contract and the blood vessels to contract. CCBs are also used to slow the heart rate and are used for treating an abnormally rapid heart rate. The most common side effect of calcium channel blockers are headache, nausea, constipation, rash, dizziness and fluid retention.

Alpha Blockers:

Alpha blockers stop certain nerve impulses to the blood vessels causing the vessels to relax. Alpha blockers stop a natural hormone called nor-epinephrine from stimulating the muscles in the walls of the of the smaller blood vessels. The most common side effect of alpha blockers is low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, pounding heart beat, nausea, fatigue, fluid retention and an increase of the cholesterol levels in the blood. Some alpha blockers can increase the risk of heart failure with long term use.

Vasodilators:

Vasodilators directly cause the muscles in the blood vessels walls to relax thus preventing the muscles from tightening and the walls of the blood vessels from narrowing. Side effects of vasodilators are headache, nasal congestion, chest pain, rapid hear beat, pounding heart beat, fluid retention and dizziness. Long term use increase the risk of developing a connective tissue disease called lupus.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with high blood pressure such as diuretics, copper, vitamin B, vitamin A, Quercitin, Potassium, Lecithin and Iron.

Natural diuretics are contained in cranberries, anything that has caffeine and apple cider vinegar. Fruits and vegetables such as watermelon and cucumbers contain a lot of water and will help increase urination. If you are taking COUMADIN then check with your doctor before using cranberry.

There is strong evidence that trace mineral Copper is vital to the tensile strength of the coronary blood vessels.

Vitamin B taken together as a team perform vital biological processes including aiding in the healing process for congestive heart failure and reduces fluid retention. It is required for the development of red blood cells.

Vitamin C has show to reduce cholesterol levels and lowers high blood pressure.

Quercitin is a well known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and can reduce inflammation boost the immune system and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. Quercitin is also known for its ability to block the release of histamines, thus reducing or preventing allergy symptoms. Take 500 mg twice daily.

Potassium may help prevent high blood pressure and protect against atherosclerosis and reduce the risk of stroke.

Lecithin has the potential to protect against fat clogged arteries when take daily.

Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying substance in red blood cells. Iron is vital for the production of blood by the bone marrow. The single most common cause of anemia is the lack of Iron.

Lifestyle changes can also lower the risk of medical emergencies do to arteriosclerosis. Quit smoking, eat healthy foods, weight loss and get regular exercise. This treatment is often problematic for many to achieve and continue for the long term.

This report is nutritional in nature and not to be construed as medical advice.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

Related Blogs

• Which antihypertensive drug to use after a diuretic: an ACE-inhibitor or beta-blocker seems preferable to a calcium channel blocker « NPCi blog
• From High Blood Pressure to Heart Attack, and Kidney Problems | High Blood Pressure Diet