How to medicate for High Blood Pressure
If you are among the 25% of Americans with high blood pressure you are first line of defense will usually be hypertension medication.
If you have hypertension pressure your heart has to work hard to pump blood to your body. This can lead to eh biggest killer in America, heart disease. Luckily prescription medication can help treat this common condition and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme inhibitors or ACE inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers or ARB drugs both affect the hormone-system that regulates blood pressure. The run of angiotensin-system works like this. The kidney is producing enzyme run in which is converted to the hormone angiotensin. Angiotensin controls constriction of the arteries. Well, active angiotensin cause them to narrow, the inactive form does not. Both Ace inhibitors and ARB drug stop angiotensin from becoming active. So that it can not narrow the arteries effectively lowering blood pressure.
ACE inhibitors like Vasotec and Zestril are quite valuable but they have one down side. The common cause off often in companies is medications. For these reasons some people may find ARB drugs like Avapro and Cozaar to be more convenient. Some people with hypertension are treated with a group of medication known as beta blockers like the Tenormin, Inderal and Tropol.
Beta blockers work on a sympathetic nervous system. A part of the body that helps regulate in voluntary function such as your heart beat. This medication slows the heart and reduced the force of its contractions. While beta blockers are useful for hypertension suffers as you also have angina or have experience the recent heart attack. The side effects which can include depression and nightmares do not make ideal for everyone.
Alpha blockers like Hytrin and Cardura cause the heart arteries to widen, there by lowering blood pressure. Alpha blockers maybe particularly useful for patients with enlarge prostate glands but because they can actually increase the risk of heart related problems. Alpha blockers are recommended for use only in conjunction with other drugs.
Calcuim Channel Blockers or CCBs inhibit the movement of calcium into the muscle cells of the heart and arteries. Because calcium is needed or the heart to contract this drugs decrease the force of the heart is pumping. There by lowering blood pressure. CCBs are available and sustained released and short acting form. Example of commonly prescribed CCBs includes Calan, Norvacs and Cardizem. Perhaps the oldest known hypertension medications are diuretics like HydroDIURIL and Lasix.
Excess salt in the body leads to excess fluid which in turn causes increase pressure on the heart or high blood pressure. Diuretics work in a tiny tubals of the kidneys to removed fluids from, the body no matter what medications or combination of medication your doctor prescribed for you it is vital to take this these drugs exactly the way your physician prescribes them.
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