Patients should not assume that all blood pressure medications are alike. ACE inhibitors and beta blockers are two different classes of drugs used to treat hypertension and heart disease. Although they treat similar conditions, these drugs work...
Both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and beta blockers are used in the treatment of high blood pressure, also called hypertension. ACE inhibitors work by easing the constriction of blood vessels in the body so your heart...
More than 56,000 people died in 2006 due to complications of hypertension, according to the American Heart Association, and almost 75 million Americans suffer from the disease as of 2010. Although lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and...
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This agency reviews and approves clinical guidelines and recommendations. The clinical guidelines approved by AHRQ for hypertension...
Potassium is a mineral that maintains normal cell function and fluid balance inside and outside of cells. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, low blood potassium, or hypokalemia, is most commonly due to excessive loss of potassium from...
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a disease in which the pressure within the arteries is elevated on a constant basis. This pressure can be a symptom of another problem, or it can lead to other problems within the body.
Many prescription drugs are available to reduce blood pressure. While these drugs do not cure hypertension, they control it until the underlying health problem is cured or until lifestyle modifications start displaying their beneficial effects....
Heart failure is commonly described as a condition where the heart is unable to meet the metabolic and oxygen demands of the body because the heart is not functioning normally. When the heart does not function optimally fluid can be retained and...
Chest pressure while exercising can have a number of causes. One of the most concerning causes of intermittent chest pressure is related to the functioning of your heart. If the pain only comes on during exertion and stops after discontinuing...
Blood pressure is a measure of the force that blood exerts on the walls of arteries. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common medical condition that affects approximately one-third of adults in the United States, according to the U.S....
Although proponents of colon cleansing claim otherwise, a “clean” colon does nothing to lower blood pressure. In fact, no scientific evidence exists to support its use in the prevention or treatment of any health condition. The only...
Lotrel is the brand name for a prescription medication that contains two active ingredients: benazepril, an angiotensin converting enzyme or ACE inhibitor; and amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker. These medications work together to help reduce...
Hydrochlorothiazide is a prescription diuretic sold under both generic and trade name. It is often abbreviated HCTZ. Classified as a thiazide diuretic, it helps to rid the body of excess fluid. The U.S. National Library of Medicine explains that...
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a serious health issue, and treating it is not always an easy task. A medication that works well for one person, may not be the best option for another. There are many medications that can prescribed for...
Taking potassium tablets can be helpful in treating muscle cramps caused by a potassium deficiency. Your doctor may recommend that you take a potassium supplement if you don’t get enough potassium in your diet or if you have a condition or...
Congestive heart failure describes a condition in which the heart fails to pump enough blood to meet the demands of the body, according to the American Heart Association. Congestive heart failure can result from many diseases of the heart and...
Lotrel (amlodipine besylate and benazepril hydrochloride) is a medication used in the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension). Lotrel contains two prescription medicines that work together to lower blood pressure: amlodipine besylate, a...
The best fruits and vegetables to lower blood pressure are high in magnesium, potassium and nitric oxide. Some provide specific blood pressure lowering benefits. Dr. Gary Plotnick, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center and...
Borage oil is a source of gamma-linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid and precursor of prostaglandins. According to Brigham and Women's Hospital, prostaglandins are found naturally in all bodily tissues, act as local hormones, and have...
The American Heart Association reports that heart failure is a condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to all the organs in the body. It is also known as congestive heart failure and can be caused by a previous heart attack,...
For most people who suffer from high blood pressure, one medicine is all that is needed to lower the hypertension. But some patients cannot be helped with one medication alone. According to the American Heart Association, many patients with...
You have decided to reduce the amount of sodium in your diet, or you've been advised by your health care provider to do so. Reducing sodium is not always an easy -- or flavorful -- task. You have used or plan to use a salt substitute to make the...
Potassium is essential to the proper function of the heart, muscles and digestive system. Getting the appropriate amount of potassium is important for people of all ages, but particularly for older adults. Too much potassium can cause...
Most diabetics also have hypertension, which puts them at a higher risk to develop the complications of both diseases. The main concern is the effect that hypertension has on the kidneys and cardiovascular system of diabetics. There are...
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is not able to push blood forward from either the right side of the heart to the lungs, or from the left side of the heart to the systemic circulation and brain. Heart failure can cause blood...
When blood moves through the arteries, it pushes against the walls of the arteries with force. Blood pressure measures the force of blood as it travels through the arteries. Untreated high blood pressure, or hypertension, can lead to conditions...
Angiotensin II is a potent hormone that causes the muscles surrounding blood vessels to contract, thereby narrowing and constricting the blood vessels and resulting in high blood pressure. Angiotensin converting enzyme, or ACE, inhibitor...
Beta blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers are the types of drugs used to treat high blood pressure. While they can reduce blood pressure levels and prevent strokes and heart attacks,...
If you have high blood pressure (hypertension), your doctor might prescribe medication to help you control it. Drugs for high blood pressure either lower the amount of blood that your heart pumps out or they decrease resistance in your blood...
Congestive heart failure, or congestive cardiac failure, is the failure of the heart resulting from any structural or functional disorder. Learn more about congestive heart failure in this health video.
Heart failure, or congestive cardiac failure, is the failure of the heart resulting from any structural or functional disorder. Congestive heart failure is the result of many conditions or diseases; learn more about heart failure in this health...
