Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is referred to as a "silent killer" because it usually shows no symptoms. It is defined as a diastolic blood pressure that is greater than 90 mmHg or a systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mmHg. Blood pressure is the force that blood pumped from the heart to the body exerts on the walls of the blood vessels. The narrower the blood vessels, the higher the blood pressure. Various medications are used to treat hypertension.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers are anti-hypertensive drugs that work by preventing calcium from entering the cells of the heart. This relaxes the blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. Examples of drugs in this class of medications are felodipine, nifedipine, nicardipine, amlodipine, bepridil, diltiazem and verapamil. Headache, nausea and constipation are common side effects of these drugs.
Diuretics
Diuretics are also referred to as "water pills." They lower blood pressure by ridding the body of excess fluids, which reduces blood volume, which in turn reduces the amount of work the heart has to do. Thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics and potassium-sparing diuretics are the three classes of diuretics that can be used to control hypertension. Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic; furosemide and bumex are loop diuretics; and amiloride is a potassium-sparing diuretic.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
Angiotensin is a body chemical which causes constriction of blood vessels, which in turn leads to an increase in blood pressure. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors prevent the formation of this chemical and promote relaxation of the blood vessels to keep blood pressure low. Examples of drugs in this class are perindopril, quinapril, moexipril, enalapril, lisinopril, prinivil, fosinopril, ramipril, captopril, benazepril and trandolapril. These medications work better in people of African origin when combined with a thiazide diuretic.
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
Angiotensin II receptor blockers lower blood pressure by blocking the action of angiotension, a chemical found in the body that increases blood pressure. They are often administered to patients who cannot take angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, as stated by the University of Maryland Medical Center. Examples of angiotensin II receptor blockers are candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, losartan and valsartan
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers work to decrease blood pressure by decreasing the rate at which the heart beats and by opening up the blood vessels. Atenolol, nadolol, timolol bisoprolol, metoprolol and nebivolol are examples of beta blockers used to treat hypertension. Beta blockers also work better in people of African origin when it is combined with a thiazide diuretic, as reported by the Mayo Clinic.
