Blood pressure describes the force that blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels. Doctors measure blood pressure as two numbers. The systolic pressure measures as the heart beats while the diastolic pressure measures as the heart relaxes between beats. Blood pressure can indicate overall health and high blood pressure can contribute to the onset of many diseases. Therefore controlling blood pressure through lifestyle changes and medications becomes important for optimal health.
Blood Pressure Readings
A normal healthy blood pressure reading includes a systolic pressure of less than 120 mmHg and a diastolic pressure of less than 80 mmHg. Systolic readings between 120 and 139 mmHg and diastolic readings between 80 and 89 mmHg indicate a condition known as pre-hypertension, a condition which needs careful monitoring to prevent the onset of hypertension. Hypertension, a condition of high blood pressure, occurs when the systolic pressure raises over 140 mmHg and the diastolic pressure raises over 90 mmHg.
Who Needs Medications?
Making lifestyle changes and creating healthy habits can help patients with pre-hypertension and even hypertension lower their blood pressure. Blood pressure treatments aim to lower blood pressure under 140 mmHg over 90 mmHg. In patients who suffer from diabetes along with high blood pressure, doctors try to keep their blood pressure under 130 mmHg over 80 mmHg, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. When lifestyle changes alone fail to reduce blood pressure, or when other diseases such as heart disease also occur, doctors use medications to reduce and maintain a healthy blood pressure.
Medications that Affect the Heart
Doctors utilize many different types of medications to help lower blood pressure. Beta blockers medications, such as propanolol, block the hormone adrenaline from binding to receptors in the heart. This decreases the workload on the heart therefore allowing the heart to beat slower reducing blood pressure, according to MayoClinic.com. Calcium channel blocker medications, such as diltiazem or verapamil, also help the heart to relax by reducing the flow of calcium into the heart muscle.
Medications that Affect Blood Vessels
Angiotensin converting enzyme---ACE converts the neurohormone angiotensin one into angiotensin II---a hormone that triggers blood vessels to constrict therefore increasing blood pressure. A classification of medications known as ACE inhibitors blocks the effects of this enzyme therefore reducing the level of angiotensin II resulting in lower blood pressure. Alpha blocker medications, including doxazosin, block the effects of norepinephrine therefore allowing blood vessels to remain open and relaxed.
Medications to Reduce Blood Volume
Doctors commonly prescribe diuretic medications, also known as water pills, to treat high blood pressure and heart problems caused by high blood pressure, according to MayoClinic.com. Diuretic medications induce the kidneys to produce more urine which removes additional water and salts from the blood. This reduces the volume of blood flowing through the body which reduces blood pressure.
