Drugs to Lower High Blood Pressure

One in three adults suffers from high blood pressure, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. While lifestyle and diet changes help many people control their blood pressure levels, other people require medication(s) to lower their blood pressure. The processes by which blood pressure medications work on the body vary. Thus, some people may respond better to certain medications better than others. To find the best blood pressure medication for you, discuss your medical history with your doctor.

Significance

• If you have high blood pressure, it's vital that you attempt to lower it as soon as possible. Over time, high blood pressure harms your body in a variety of ways. High blood pressure results from an increase blood volume. Increased blood volume strains and weakens your heart. Furthermore, blood pressure may cause your arteries to narrow, which often leads to heart disease. Other complications of high blood pressure include stroke, burst blood vessels in the eyes, kidney failure, aneurysms and metabolic disorders. Medications decrease a variety of bodily chemicals that contribute to blood volume and high blood pressure.

Diuretics

• Thiazide diuretics decrease your overall blood volume by reducing the amount of water and salt in your blood. As blood volume drops, so does the pressure at which blood flows through your veins and arteries. Your doctor may prescribe a variety of diuretics based on your age and health. For instance, a diuretic known as indapamide helps to cut the risk of blood pressure related deaths in patients older than 80 years of age. Diuretics are usually the first medication a doctor will use to lower your blood pressure but since diuretics do not work for many people, your doctor may have to opt for additional or alternate drugs.

Calcium Blockers

• Calcium channel blockers are medications that restrict the amount of calcium in your blood vessels and heart. As the amount of calcium in your vital muscles decreases, the muscles relax and widen. This allows blood to flow through your arteries with greater ease and decreased resistance. The Mayo Clinic suggests that Calcium channel blockers may work best for African-Americans with high blood pressure. In additional, Mayo Clinic warns that grapefruits and grapefruit juice may have a negative interaction with some Calcium channel blockers. For a complete list of food and drug interactions, discuss Calcium channel with your doctor and pharmacist.

Angiotensin Inhibitor and Blockers

• One of the bodily chemicals that may increase blood pressure is a hormone known as angiotensin II. Some blood pressure medication seeks to reduce the formation of angiotensin II or minimize the negative impact the hormone may have on your blood pressure. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors stop or lower your body's angiotensin production and angiotensin II receptor blockers reduce angiotensin's ability to narrow your blood vessels. Both angiotensin medications work best for people who already have blood pressure related complications such as coronary artery disease or chronic kidney failure.

Other Blood Pressure Medication

• Other blood pressure medications that doctors use on their own or in combination with one of the above medications include beta blockers, renin inhibitors, alpha blockers, alpha-beta blockers, central-acting agents and vasodilators. Most of these medications work by reducing your brain's ability to narrow blood vessels. For instance, alpha blockers prevent the brain from creating nerve impulses that restrict blood vessels. Renin inhibitors on the other hand reduce your body's levels of a high blood pressure promoting enzyme known as renin.