Blood pressure is the force at which blood pumps through your arteries to the rest of your body. When your blood pressure reading is 140/90 or above, it is considered high. This is also known medically as hypertension. When you have high blood pressure, your risk for heart attacks, heart failure and strokes goes up. You can take medicine for blood pressure to lower your reading.
Diuretics
Sodium is a nutrient the body needs in small doses. When you consume high amounts of sodium, your body can retain water, which causes your blood pressure to elevate. Diuretics are pills that help lower your blood pressure by flushing out built-up sodium from your body. Chlorthalidone, metolazone, chlorthalidone and furosemide are examples of these. Indapamide is a diuretic that is specifically designed for people older than 80.
Beta Blockers
When it comes to high blood pressure, chemical messengers cause the heart to beat faster by way of beta receptors. Beta blockers are medications that slow down the heart rate by blocking beta receptor activity. Examples of these include acebutolol, betaxolol, nadolol and propranolol hydrochloride.
ACE Inhibitors
Blood vessels can become constricted from the release of a natural body chemical called angiotensin I. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors lower blood pressure by blocking the formation of this chemical. Examples of these are captopril, moexipril, benazepril hydrochloride and trandolapril.
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers
Angiotensin II is another type of chemical that flows through the body and causes blood vessels to become narrow. As the names implies, these medicines stop the production of angiotensin II. Candesartan, valsartan, irbesarten and losartin potassium are all examples of these.
Nerve Inhibitors
The arteries have sympathetic nerves going to them that come from the brain. Sympathetic nerve inhibitors are anti-hypertensive medicines that inhibit the nerves that cause blood vessels to constrict. This in turn lowers blood pressure. Clonidine hydrochloride, alpha methyldopa and guanabenz acetate are examples of these.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Amlodipine besylate, nifedipine, isradipine and felodipine are examples of calcium channel blockers. These drugs help reduce blood pressure by slowing down the release of calcium into the blood vessel cells.
Vasodilators
Hydralazine hydrocholoride and minoxidil are two examples of vasodilators. These medicines cause your arteries to dilate, which in turn lowers your blood pressure.
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