Medication Treatment of Hypertension - Which Drugs are Best?

Normal blood pressure has a systolic reading of less than 120 and a diastolic of less than 80. (Though normal can vary from person to person. Ask your doctor or other health care professional what is normal for you). Hypertension is a systolic reading of 140 OR more or a diastolic reading of 90 or more.

Treatment of hypertension includes:

• Losing weight (even just a few pounds can help)

• Exercise

• Diet changes

• Medications

There are currently eight types of medications used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

1. Central acting medications - these directly affect your nervous system to reduce nerve signals that cause your blood vessels to constrict. Example - clonidine.

2. Diuretics - these are better known as "water pills". These help your body eliminate excess water in your body by urinating it out. Examples - Furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide.

3. Direct vasodilators - Relax the blood vessel walls' muscles - thus dilating them. Examples - minoxidil and hydralazine

4. Angiotensin - converting enzyme inhibitors - these keep your body from producing a hormone that causes the blood vessels to constrict. Examples - lisinopril, quinapril, and benazepril (and other medications with the ending of the word = ...pril)

5. Beta - blockers - these slow the heart rate. This causes less force to be exerted on your blood vessel walls and reduces blood pressure. Examples include - atenolol, propranolol, and carvedilol (and other medications with the ending of the word = ....olol

6. Angiotensin II receptor blockers - these protects your body from a hormone that causes the blood vessels to constrict. Examples - irbesartan, candesartan, and olmesartan (and other medications with ending of the word = .....sartan).

7. Calcium channel blockers - these keep your blood vessels from constricting by keeping calcium from entering your body's cells. Examples - diltiazem, felodipine, nicardipine, and verapamil.

8. Alpha blockers - these help relax blood vessels by reducing nerve signals. Examples - doxazosin, terazosin, and prazosin (and other medications with the ending of the word = ....zosin).

If you receive a new prescription from your doctor - make sure to take the medication as prescribed.