Drug therapy can be prescribed by your doctor to help your program to keep blood pressure in a normal range and there are many effective drugs available from which your doctor can choose. Some blood pressure drugs work directly on your blood pressure, others on the amount of fluids your body might tend to retain, and others on blood chemistry.
Most blood pressure drugs help improve the heart to pump blood around your body. This help increase the supply of oxygen to your heart, so that when you place extra demands on your heart, such as during exercise, your heart may cope better and you may not get short of breath as easily.
Depending on your particular needs, your doctor will start you on one or more drugs and might need to adjust the dose or change the drug/s according to how they work for you. It is important to take your medications as directed by your doctor. Be aware of possible adverse affects and report them to your doctor promptly.
Prescription Drugs Commonly Used to Treat Blood Pressure
ACE-inhibitorsACE stands for Angiotensin Converting Enzyme. This enzyme in our bodies activates a hormone called angiotensin. Once activated, this causes blood vessels to constrict. This results in higher blood pressure and strain on the heart. ACE inhibitors inhibit ACE and prevent the activation of angiotensin. This results indilated blood vessels and a lower blood pressure.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers
Angiotensin II blockers or AII blockers work in a similar way to ACE inhbitors. They are more selective in their action and may cause fewer side effects, for example less cough, than the ACE inhibitors.
Angiotensin II blockers or AII blockers work in a similar way to ACE inhbitors. They are more selective in their action and may cause fewer side effects, for example less cough, than the ACE inhibitors.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers decrease the rate at which calcium passes into the heart and blood vessel walls. They relax the blood vessels while increasing the blood supply to the heart, bringing more oxygen to the tissues, and decreasing the heart's workload. This results in a lowering of blood pressure.
Calcium channel blockers decrease the rate at which calcium passes into the heart and blood vessel walls. They relax the blood vessels while increasing the blood supply to the heart, bringing more oxygen to the tissues, and decreasing the heart's workload. This results in a lowering of blood pressure.
Beta-blockers
These drugs block the action of adrenaline and stop it from stimulating special receptors in the body known as beta-receptors. They are used to treat heart failure, high blood pressure, angina and abnormal rhythms of the heart.
Diuretics
Diuretics, sometimes commonly referred to as 'water pills', act on the kidneys to increase urine output. This reduces the amount of fluid in the bloodstream, which in turn lowers blood pressure.
Diuretics, sometimes commonly referred to as 'water pills', act on the kidneys to increase urine output. This reduces the amount of fluid in the bloodstream, which in turn lowers blood pressure.
[Source: Blood Pressure. Princeton Healthworks]
