Home > Hypertension Medication Hypertension Medication
Hypertension is a common chronic condition caused by significantly high blood pressure levels. Many people can control this condition with diet and exercise, but some people will require a prescription hypertension medication in order to control their blood pressure.
Diuretics are a type of medication used to treat hypertension. These pills increase the body’s ability to process sodium. This decreases the amount of fluid in the body, reducing the pressure in the arteries. While patients are on prescription diuretics, their doctors will monitor potassium levels. If potassium is too low, patients may be prescribed a potassium supplement.
Beta blockers diminish the vigor of heart contractions, reducing the force at which blood enters the arteries. Beta blockers are becoming increasingly popular because of the positive effect these medications have on the heart. Doctors will carefully monitor patients who are taking beta blockers to ensure that their blood pressure is not too low.
Calcium channel blockers are also used to treat hypertension. The two most common calcium channel blockers are Norvasc and Caduet. Both of these drugs are combined with cholesterol lowering drugs, treating both hypertension and high cholesterol. These drugs are particularly appealing to patients because they combine two medications into one medication.
ACE inhibitors dilate the arteries, decreasing the resistance to blood flow and reducing blood pressure levels. They can be used safely to treat patients who are suffering from congestive heart failure. They have been proven to improve the general health of the heart, decrease the risk of future heart attacks, reduce the risk of heart failure, and decrease the likelihood that the patient will be hospitalized with heart problems. Approximately 10% of all patients will experience an allergic reaction from ACE inhibitors. For this reason, doctors will carefully monitor patients when they begin taking ACE inhibitors.
Some doctors will prescribe centrally acting agents in order to help control safe blood pressure levels. These medications affect the brain, causing the body to decrease blood pressure levels. Sometimes, these drugs cause patients to feel drowsy or even depressed. This is because these drugs have a direct impact on the human brain. These drugs are becoming increasingly uncommon in the treatment of hypertension.
Not all of these medications are safe for all people, especially for people who have pre-existing health problems. Your doctor will discuss all of your treatment options with you in order to find the best medication for you.
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