Everything About Antihypertensive Drugs
For many people, lifestyle changes may be enough for keeping high blood pressure at bay. However, if you experience ongoing hypertension and keeping a healthy lifestyle does not bring relief, taking antihypertensive drugs will probably be the only solution. But before you ask your doctor to prescribe you some medications, why not to familiarize ourselves with the major types of hypertensive drugs available on today’s market.
- Diuretics. By flushing excess fluid and sodium, diuretics help to decrease high blood pressure.
- ACE inhibitors. These drugs hinder the production of angiotensin, thus widening blood vessels.
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers. Inhibiting the effect of angiotensin, these medications let blood vessels become less tense.
- Renin inhibitors. These decrease the conversion of angiotensin I into angiotensin II, subsequently causing blood pressure to fall.
- Beta blockers. These help to reduce heart rate along with blood pressure by preventing some signals from getting to the heart and blood vessels.
- Calcium channel blockers. These block the entry of calcium into vascular smooth muscle cells or cardiac muscles. This causes relaxation of the cells or depression of the cardio muscles, thus lowering blood pressure.
Even though scientists have yet to unveil the true reason that causes hypertension, it is obvious that sticking to a healthy lifestyle, while considering the following risk factors for high blood pressure may go a long way to battling it:
- Excess weight or obesity. Being overweight disturbs the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system that accounts for controlling the blood volume and regulating water retention.
- Age. While women are less predisposed to developing hypertension, men are more likely to manifest its first signs at the age of 45.
- Too much sodium or too little potassium in your diet. As opposed to immoderate sodium consumption that causes extra fluid retention, the lack of potassium will impede your kidney’s ability to regulate fluid balance that may result in elevated blood pressure.
Other factors that may put you at greater risk of developing hypertension include stress, unhealthy habits, physical inactivity, and specific chronic illnesses.
When it comes to choosing the right medications for high blood pressure, do not spurn cheap generic drugs. Boasting a more reasonable price compared to their brand-name versions, they demonstrate the same pharmacological qualities without compromised effectiveness.
Ok-Pharmacy.com does not offer doctor's professional advice. See additional information.