According to a 2010 article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, approximately 65 million people are affected by high blood pressure in the U.S. Given that high blood pressure is associated with an increased risk for heart attacks and strokes, the Healthy People 2010 goal was to increase the number of people with blood pressures of less than 140 over 90. By using the best high blood pressure medications you can achieve control over blood pressure. None of these medications should be taken without the supervision of your physician.
Diuretics
Thiazide-type diuretics are the best first choice drugs for blood pressure control, according to a 2008 article in Science Daily. Examples of thiazide-type diuretics are hydrochlorathiazide and metolazone. Thiazide-diuretics were found to be the best first-line medications alone or in combination with other drugs for blood pressure control. These medications help to control blood pressure by helping you to urinate excess fluid from the body.
Beta-Blockers
Beta-blockers are medications that slow your heart rate. They are often the next drug to replace or be added to a diuretic for blood pressure control if the diuretic hasn't proved effective. Medications such as metoprolol, atenolol and nadolol can help you achieve good blood pressure control.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers prevent calcium from entering your heart muscle and blood vessel walls to lower blood pressure. Some of the best calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine have been around for a long time and have a good safety record. If you are an African-American, diuretics and beta-blockers may not be as effective for blood pressure control so your physician may prescribe calcium channel blockers.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, or ACE-inhibitors, help to relax your blood vessels by blocking an enzyme that constricts your blood vessels. Some of the best ACE-inhibitors are captopril, enalapril, lisinopril and ramipril. These medications are usually not the first medication to be prescribed for high blood pressure because they do have some side effects such as dry cough, fatigue and rapid heart rate. This medication is important for blood pressure control if you are a diabetic as it provides some protective effects for the kidneys.
References
- Journal of the American Medical Association; US Trends in Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension, 1988-2008; B. Egan, et al.; 2010
- Science Daily: Hypertension Treatment with Diuretics
- Mayo Clinic: Beta-Blockers
- Mayo Clinic: Calcium Channel Blockers
- Mayo Clinic: Angiotension Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
