High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most common medical conditions among Americans. The American Heart Association reports that 74.5 million adults in the U.S. were living with hypertension as of 2006. Blood pressure medications and lifestyle measures, such as avoiding excessive dietary salt, maintaining a healthy weight and participating in regular physical activity, remain the primary therapeutic strategies for treating hypertension. The various types of blood pressure medications act by differing mechanisms to control hypertension.
Diuretics
Diurectics, commonly known as water pills, act on the kidneys to increase urinary salt and water excretion. The resulting decrease in total body water causes a fall in blood pressure. Different types of diuretics include the thiazides, loop diurectics, potassium-sparing diuretics and aldosterone receptor blockers.
The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure recommends the inclusion of thiazide diuretics in the medical management of hypertension in people without complicating illnesses. Thiazide diuretics include hydrochlorothiazide, chlorothiazide, polythiazide, chlorthalidone, indapamide and metolazone. Other types of diuretic medications may be used in people with complicating medical conditions such as a previous heart attack or stroke, heart failure, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents
Beta-adrenergic blocking agents, also known as beta blockers, are commonly used for the treatment of hypertension. These drugs act by blocking some of the effects of the hormone adrenaline, resulting in relaxation of the blood vessels, slower heart rate and less forceful muscular contraction of the heart, notes the American Heart Association. Commonly prescribed beta blockers include propranolol, atenolol, acebutolol, metoprolol, pindolol, penbutolol, timolol, bisoprolol and nadolol.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, also known as ACE inhibitors, decrease the level of angiotensin II in the bloodstream, explains the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Decreased circulating angiotensin II causes a parallel decrease in blood vessel narrowing, leading to lower blood pressure. ACE inhibitor medications include captopril, lisinopril, benazepril, enalapril, moexipril, ramipril, fosinopril, quniapril, perindopril and trandolapril. Combination drugs that include an ACE inhibitor and a thiazide diuretic are commonly prescribed for patients who require both medications for adequate blood pressure control.
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers
Angiotensin II receptor blockers, also known as angiotension II antagonists, inhibit the action of angiotensin II by blocking its site of action on the blood vessel cells, notes MayoClinic.com. Blocking the angiotensin II receptor prevents the hormone from initiating blood vessel constriction, thereby promoting lower blood pressure. Angiotensin II receptor blocker drugs include candesartan, losartan, olmesartan, eprosartan, telmisartan, irbesartan and valsartan. These drugs may prove particularly useful for people with diabetes or chronic kidney disease and hypertension.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Muscle cells in the walls of blood vessels require an influx of calcium to contract, explains the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Calcium channel blockers inhibit the flow of calcium into muscle cells, thereby preventing blood vessel constriction and lowering blood pressure. Calcium channel blockers prescribed for the treatment of hypertension include verapamil, diltiazem, nicardipine, amlodipine, nifedipine, nisoldipine, felodipine and isradipine.
References
- American Heart Association: Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics--2010 Update
- National High Blood Pressure Education Program: Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure
- MayoClinic.com: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), Diuretics
- American Heart Association: Blood Pressure-Lowering Drugs
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: Types of Blood Pressure Medications
