1. The Silent Killer
High blood pressure (hypertension) is nicknamed "the silent killer." It has this nickname because it often causes no symptoms. Because of this, many people are unaware they have hypertension or if aware, they ignore it. But it has been well established that allowing blood pressure to remain elevated causes an increased incidence of strokes and heart attacks. In the past thirty years, pharmaceutical companies have developed a great number of high blood pressure medications. Increasingly, the common blood pressure medications have fewer side effects. No patient has ANY excuse for allowing blood pressure to remain elevated.
2. Attacking Blood Pressure
Different classes of high blood pressure medicines drop blood pressure through different mechanisms. Diuretics increase urinary excretion of sodium, dropping the volume of fluid in the circulatory system. Beta blockers blunt the effect of adrenaline, slowing the heart rate, opening up peripheral blood vessels, and lessening a chronic "flight or fight response." ACE inhibitors block one of the enzymes that promotes the formation of angiotensin, a hormone that is a powerful constrictor of blood vessels. Central agents work by inhibiting brain mechanisms that drive up blood pressure. Calcium channel blockers prevent calcium from entering smooth muscle and squeezing down arteries.
3. Don't Let Side Effects Stop You
Although blood pressure medications have lists of side effects as long as your arm, with the variety of available medications, no patient should ever have to stop treatment because of side effects. Many side effects are actually just a reaction to the body normalizing its pressure. They resolve when the body gets used to being normal. Many others, like sexual dysfunction, depression, or exercise intolerance, are dose related. Using two different classes of medication at a low dose may avoid these problems. Further, most cold medications are safe if taken at the proper dose.
4. ACE Inhibitors and Diabetes
One class of medications, ACE inhibitors, is crucial to the treatment of diabetes. The effects of diabetes on small arteries can cause hypertension. Consequently, many diabetics are on hypertensive medications. ACE inhibitors not only reduce blood pressure, they are very kidney friendly. There are even studies now underway that are testing the possibility that starting certain patients at risk for developing diabetes on an ACE inhibitor may prevent or slow their development of the disease.
5. It's Okay to use Generics
After a medication's patent runs out, pharmaceutical companies other than the one that developed the medication can produce and sell it. They manufacture the same chemical compound, but sell it under a different trade name and usually at a lower price. Only in very, very rare circumstances is the "original" any better than the generic blood pressure medicine. The list of blood pressure medicines that are now generic is extensive.
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