Using Medications for Reducing High Blood Pressure
If your blood pressure is considered high, you are at risk for other potentially serious conditions like heart attack, cardiovascular disease or stroke. This is why reducing high blood pressure is such an important step in a healthier lifestyle. In many cases, this goal can be achieved with a few diet and lifestyle changes that can help you drop extra pounds and get your cardiovascular system into healthier shape. However, diet and lifestyle modifications are not always sufficient at reducing high blood pressure to a significant degree. In these cases, medication is often the treatment of choice and there are a number of different options to explore.
Diuretics
One of the first medications that is often prescribed for reducing high blood pressure is a diuretic. Sometimes these medications are used in combination with other prescriptions, and sometimes they are used alone. A diuretic will reduce the amount of water and sodium in your body so that blood can pump more freely through your system. Some of the commercial names of diuretics include Thalitone, Lasix and Esidrix. In some cases of combination of diuretics may be prescribed for best results.
Beta Blockers
A medication that is commonly prescribed alongside a diuretic is a beta blocker. Beta blockers are effective at reducing high blood pressure because they make the heart beat slower so blood is able to go through your cardiovascular system with less force. These medications are recognized by the commercial names like Toprol, Sectral and Coreg. Beta blockers can be prescribed on their own for some patients, but are often much more effective when taken with a diuretic.
Medications that Inhibit Blood Vessel Constriction
Another effective means of reducing high blood pressure is to inhibit blood vessel constriction so that blood can pass through the system easier. These medications include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers and calcium channel blockers. All of these medications are effective in reducing high blood pressure because they can block substances in the body that can constrict the blood vessels. One word of caution about calcium channel blockers; it is not a good idea to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are taking these medications, since a harmful interaction can occur.
If you are concerned about reducing high blood pressure and diet and lifestyle changes have not done the job, perhaps it is time to talk to your doctor about your options in medications. With so many medicines available that are effective in reducing high blood pressure, you are sure to find the right treatment strategy for you.
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