Treatment for High Blood Pressure
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Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the
walls of the arteries. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood
through the arteries. Your blood pressure is at its highest when
the heart beats, forcing blood into the arteries. This is called
systolic pressure. When the heart is at rest, between beats,
your blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure. Blood
pressure is always given as two numbers, the systolic and
diastolic pressures. Both are important.
The systolic pressure is the first or top number, and the
diastolic pressure is the second or bottom number (for example,
120/80). If your blood pressure is 120/80, you say that it is
"120 over 80".
It is important to take steps to keep your blood pressure under
control. The treatment goal is to keep blood pressure below
140/90, or even lower for people with other conditions, such as
diabetes and kidney disease.
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is an essential and effective
first step in both preventing and controlling high blood
pressure. However, if lifestyle changes alone are not effective
in keeping your pressure controlled, it may be necessary to take
blood pressure medications.
The following types of medications are available to treat high
blood pressure: 1. Diuretics: Diuretics are sometimes called
water pills because they work in the kidney and flush excess
water and sodium from the body, lowering blood pressure. 2.
Beta-blockers: Beta-blockers reduce nerve impulses to the heart
and blood vessels. This makes the heart beat slower and with
less force. As a result of these drugs, the blood pressure drops
and the heart works less hard. 3. ACE inhibitors: Angiotensin
converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors prevent the formation of a
hormone called angiotensin II, which normally causes blood
vessels to narrow. The ACE inhibitors cause the vessels to relax
and blood pressure goes down. 4. Angiotensin antagonists:
Angiotensin antagonists shield blood vessels from angiotensin
II. As a result, the vessels become wider and blood pressure
goes down. 5. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs): CCBs keep calcium
from entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels.
This causes the blood vessels to relax and pressure goes down.
6. Alpha-blockers: Alpha-blockers reduce nerve impulses to blood
vessels, which allows blood to pass more easily, causing the
blood pressure to go down. 7. Alpha-beta-blockers:
Alpha-beta-blockers work the same way as alpha-blockers but also
slow the heartbeat, as beta-blockers do. As a result of using
these drugs, less blood is pumped through the vessels and the
blood pressure goes down. 8. Nervous system inhibitors: Nervous
system inhibitors relax blood vessels by controlling nerve
impulses, and this causes the blood vessels to become wider and
the blood pressure to go down. 9. Vasodilators: Vasodilators
directly open blood vessels by relaxing the muscles in the
vessel walls, causing the blood pressure to go down.
To find out if you have high blood pressure consult your doctor
and have a blood pressure test. The test is quick and painless.
To determine which life style changes and medications are
appropriate, consult your doctor.
Guide to Blood Pressure, low and high blood pressure and
treatment.