How To Treat High Or Low Blood Pressure

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.

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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.

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