According to the National Health Service, high blood pressure or hypertension, is defined as "having a sustained blood pressure of 140/90mmHg or above." High blood pressure is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease such as stroke or heart disease. As such, it is vital that people with high blood pressure receive proper medical attention. Although lifestyle changes help keep blood pressure under control, a doctor will usually prescribe medicine to keep blood pressure within the normal range.
ACE inhibitors
ACE inhibitors, short for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, include the drugs cilazapril, perindopril and lisinopril. ACE inhibitors block the production of angiotensin II, a hormone that constricts blood vessels and causes the body to retain fluid, thus raising blood pressure. According to the Blood Pressure Association, ACE inhibitors are "a popular first-choice medicine for high blood pressure." It notes that they are used in people under 55 years of age, except those of African Caribbean origin. This is because ACE inhibitors act upon a chemical called renin. People under 55 years of age have higher amounts of renin in their body for the drug to act upon, making it more effective. In the same way, people of African Caribbean origin have low amounts of renin, making ACE inhibitors less effective in this population.
Diuretics
Diuretics reduce the volume of water in the blood, thus lowering blood pressure. Diuretics also relax and widen the walls of blood vessels, thus easing blood flow and reducing pressure. The three group of diuretics are known as thiazides, loop diuretics and potassium-sparing diuretics. This class of drug is sometimes referred to as water tablets and include the drugs xipamide and furosemide. According to the Blood Pressure Association, diuertics rarely interfere with other medicines or conditions, but a thiazide diuretic should not be prescribed to patients with kidney or liver disease.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers reduce blood pressure by slowing heart rate and the force of its output. They include the drugs atenolol, bisoprolol and timolol. However, according to a 2006 article published in the Guardian newspaper, a U.K. government watchdog group advised that people on beta blockers for blood pressure should switch to a "more modern" drug. This follows advice from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence, which stated that switching a patient from a beta blocker to a newer drug could reduce the risk of developing diabetes and halve the risk of a suffering a stroke.
Angiotensin-2 Receptor Blockers
Like ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-2 receptor blockers lower blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels so blood flows more easily and helping the body to excrete excess water. According to Bupa, angiotensin-2 receptor blockers cause fewer side effects than ACE inhibitors. Examples of this class of drug include valsartan and irbesartan.
Calcium-Channel Blockers
Calcium in the body may sometimes narrow the blood vessels, thus raising blood pressure. Calcium-channel blockers prevent this from happening by literally blocking by the effects of calcium on the blood vessels. According to the Blood Pressure Association, calcium-channel blockers are a "popular first-choice medicine for high blood pressure."
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