Know All There is To Know About High Blood Pressure Medication

Know All There is To Know About High Blood Pressure Medication. There are many ways to treat hypertension, including lifestyle changes and medications. High blood pressure can be treated in several situations without taking medications. Adopt a balanced diet, reducing alcohol intake and salt, take a moderate physical activity … So many ways are ready to fight against this disease.
♦ First Step: Blood Pressure Measurement
The blood pressure changes naturally during the day under intense emotion, physical activity or stress. Simply, one and only high reading does not necessarily signify that you have high blood pressure. If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, you may take several readings at spaced intervals. When the blood pressure remains high permanently, beyond 140/90 mmHg, it is called hypertension.
♦ Second Step: Change Your Lifestyle
Lifestyle is a set of habits and attitudes that includes, for example, social use of substances such as tobacco or drugs, alcohol, exercise, and dietary habits, all of which have important implications for health. Lifestyle changes can eliminate or reduce your need for medications to monitor your blood pressure. Certainly, in case that you have high blood pressure or/and are at risk of developing it, lifestyle changes can help keep your numbers under control.
Small changes can make a great difference to your health. To encourage get you started here is a list of salutary or useful tips to benefit from lifestyle changes that can lower your blood pressure:
- Maintain a healthy weight: appropriate weight management brings down cholesterol and hypertension.
- Make half your plate vegetables and fruits. Avoid eating sugary foods, coconut oils, and a lot of red meat.
- Reduce the sodium in your diet and select foods (canned foods) labeled low sodium, reduced sodium, or no salt added. A low-sodium diet can help you manage your blood pressure. So, try to eat no more than 2,300 mg sodium a day.
- Keep regularly activity on most days of the week (about 30 minutes per day). Moderate activity can lower hypertension and reduce your risk for other health problems.
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol. keep under a maximum of 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women.
- Manage stress and avoid smoking.
♦ Third Step: High Blood Pressure Medication
This stage signifies the prescription of one or more anti-hypertensive drugs. Blood pressure drugs work in several ways to stop or slow some of the body’s functions that cause high blood pressure. If a trial of making lifestyle changes isn’t quite enough to monitor your blood pressure, it is essential to take a prescription for one or more of these medications in addition to maintaining your lifestyle measures.
Antihypertensive remedy has been utilized for almost 40 years to decrease blood pressure and to prevent morbidity and mortality allied with (related to) hypertension. This remedy has been shown to be in the extreme efficient in decreasing the incidence of stroke, congestive cardiac failure and renal failure associated with hypertension. Antihypertensive combinations (amalgamation) have instruments that adjust hypertension. Having an amalgamation of drugs in one pill may better control high blood pressure by improving compliance.
Medications to lower blood pressure include:
-
Alpha Blockers:
Dangle certain muscles and help small blood vessels remain open. Examples, Doxazosin mesylate, Prazosin hydrochloride, etc.
-
Alpha-Beta Blockers:
Alpha-beta blockers combine the effects of alpha- and beta-blockers. They decrease nerve impulses the same way alpha blockers do. Moreover, they make your heart beat at a slower pace. Examples, Coreg, Carvedilol, Normodyne, Labetalol HCl, Trandate, etc.
-
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors:
Block or prevent an enzyme in your body from generating (producing) angiotensin II, a substance in your body that limits (narrow) your blood vessels and releases hormones that can raise your blood pressure. Examples, Captopril, Enalapril, Fosinopril sodium, Lisinopril, Moexipril, Perindopril , etc.
-
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers
Help relax your blood vessels by blocking the actions of angiotensin II, which lowers your blood pressure. Examples, Eprosartan mesylate, Irbesarten, Losartin Potassium, Olmesartan, etc.
-
Beta Blockers (beta-adrenergic blocking agents):
Work by blocking the effects of adrenaline. So, the heart beats more slowly and with less force, thereby reducing blood pressure. Examples, Acebutolol, Atenolol, Bisoprolol fumarate, Carvedilol, etc.
-
Calcium Channel Blockers:
Lower your blood pressure by blocking the effects of calcium on your blood vessels. Examples, Felodipine, Isradipine, Nicardipine, etc.
-
Central Adrenergic Inhibitors (Central Acting Agents):
Lower your heart rate and reduce your blood pressure by acting in the brain to decrease nerve signals that narrow blood vessels. Examples, Kapvay, Tenex, Aldomet, Duraclon , Nexiclon XR, etc.
-
Diuretics (water pills):
Help rid your body of sodium and water. They enhance urination which decreases sodium and fluid in the body. Examples, Bumetanide, Chlorthalidone , Chlorothiazide, Ethacrynate, etc.
-
Vasodilators:
Dangle (relax) the muscles in blood vessel walls, which can bring blood pressure down. Examples, Hydralazine (Apresoline), Minoxidil, etc.
♦ High Blood Pressure Medication Side Effects
- Increased urination and mineral loss ( case of Diuretics).
- Hyponatremia
- Constipation
- Muscle cramps
- Fatigue
- Headache and fever
- Abnormally slow heart rate
- Dizziness
- Impotence
- Sedation or drowsiness
- Dry mouth
Notice: Don’t quit or decrease taking these medications without talking to your doctor.