What Medicines Are Given for High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure is often called the silent killer. Generally, high blood pressure has no symptoms and most cases have no known cause. Untreated, high blood pressure can lead to disability and death. Knowing your blood pressure reading and controlling high blood pressure with medicine and lifestyle modifications can help you live a longer and more active life.

Definition

• High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a higher force of the blood on the walls of the arteries than is ideal. There are two measurements involved in a blood pressure reading. The systolic reading is the force of the blood when the heart beats. The diastolic reading is the force between heartbeats. These pressure readings are represented by two numbers, such as 120/80, with the top number being the systolic pressure measurement and the lower number the diastolic. High blood pressure occurs when the systolic pressure is more than 140 and the diastolic pressure consistently tops 90.

Diuretics

• The most commonly used drugs to alleviate high blood pressure are diuretics. Diuretics act by increasing the blood vessel diameter, allowing the vessels to dilate. Diuretics also help the kidneys eliminate salt and water from the blood. This action decreases blood volume and lessens the pressure on the arteries.

Adrenergic Blockers

• Adrenergic blockers work by blocking the effects of the part of the nervous system that increases blood pressure due to stress. The beta blocker is the most commonly used type of adrenergic blocker. Beta blockers block the action of catecholamines, thereby causing the heart rate and blood pressure to decrease. In addition to treating high blood pressure, beta blockers are also used for people with angina, migraine headaches, arrhythmias and other heart conditions

ACE Inhibitors

• Angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II blockers cause the arterioles to dilate by blocking the action of an enzyme that causes them to constrict. ACE inhibitors are commonly combined with a diuretic, which also helps lower blood pressure. ACE inhibitors are also used to treat other heart diseases, in people suffering from kidney disease or diabetes, and in those who have scleroderma or migraine headaches.

Calcium Channel Blockers

• Calcium channel blockers work by blocking the entry of calcium into the heart and the walls of blood vessels. Calcium is needed by muscles for contraction. By blocking the entry of calcium, calcium channel blockers cause the arteries to relax and dilate, decreasing blood pressure. Some calcium blockers are also useful to control heart arrhythmia, to lower the heart rate and to decrease angina pain.