Blood Pressure, or medically called hypertension, is determined by how strong the blood pushes the inside walls of the arteries. It is essential to maintain the blood pressure at normal condition to prevent the liquid from damaging the vessels, kidneys, and of course, heart. In medical terms, blood pressure is divided into two different numbers, which are systolic and diastolic. Commonly, when you have regular blood pressure check, doctors will inform you some numbers such as 120/80; it means that the systolic number stands at 120 and the diastolic number stands at 80. Both numbers indicate the strength of the blood when it pushes the walls of the arteries; systolic shows how powerful it is as the heart pumps whereas diastolic is the indicated strength of the blood as the heart relaxes. Patients are diagnosed to have high blood pressure when the numbers reach 140/90. At this particular state, doctors will commonly prescribe some drugs for high blood pressure treatment; however, patients will be carefully examined before any kinds of prescriptions are offered. Since the condition probably comes from many different causes, different drugs are as well available. Depending on the functions and causes, drugs for high blood pressure treatment are divided into four categories, which are diuretics, alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors.
The most common drug type used for high blood pressure treatment is called diuretic. This type of drug does not work directly to affect heart or blood, but kidneys are the places where it supposed to do the job. Diuretics work by improving kidneys’ efficiency to remove water and salt. Such mechanism in the metabolism system helps to reduce the volume level that occupies the vessels. Logically, blood has more room in which it is travelling throughout the body. Some examples of diuretics include Midamor, Lasix, Lodor, HCTZ, Aldactone, Esidrix, Hydrodiuril, Mykrox and Microzide. In some cases, when necessary, doctors may prescribe two different diuretic drugs at one time. The most frequently prescribed medications of diuretic combinations are hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone (Aldactazide) and the combination of hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene (Dyazide and Maxzide).
Another type of drug for high blood pressure treatment is Alpha-Blockers, which work by affecting the nerve system. Basically, everything that happens in the metabolism system is controlled by the complicated nerve system. Alpha-Blockers work by reducing the amounts of impulses that signal the vessels to work hardly. By decreasing the workload, vessels will remain in relaxed state; therefore, blood pressure is reduced. Examples of Alpha-Blockers include Minipress, Hytrin, and Cardura.
Other types of drugs for high blood pressure treatments are Beta-Blockers and ACE inhibitors. Beta-Blockers work directly to stimulate the heart to pump blood in lower rate. Such process reduces the amounts of blood that goes through vessels. Some examples of Beta-Blockers include Sectral, Levatol, Cartrol, Zebeta, Visken, etc. ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors prevent the production of angiotensin II; this hormone is the one that leads the vessels to tighten. When blood vessels are relaxed, blood can flow freely without too much force to the walls. ACE inhibitors include Univasc, Monopril, Altace, Capoten, Mavic, etc.