For one diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is extremely important to take the necessary steps to lower blood pressure and keep it under control. The treatment goal to be achieved is for blood pressure to be below 140/90 and lower for people with other conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease.
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is an effective to lower blood pressure as well as control it. If, however, lifestyle changes alone are not effective in keeping ones blood pressure lowered and under control, it may be necessary to add blood pressure medications as well.
Lifestyle changes to be taken should include avoiding smoking, reducing alcohol and salt intake, having a healthy diet which mostly include fruits, vegetables and a high amount of fiber but low in fat, minimizing stress in ones life and taking regular exercises.
For those requiring medication to be taken as well, the major types of medication used to control high blood pressure include:
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors - These medications help the blood vessels to relax by blocking the formation of a natural chemical that narrows blood vessels.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers - These medications help the blood vessels to relax by blocking the action — not the formation unlike ACE inhibitors — of a natural chemical that narrows blood vessels.
Beta blockers - These medications reduce the workload of the heart and open the blood vessels which then cause the heart to beat slower and with less force.
Calcium channel blockers - These medications help to relax the muscles of the body’s blood vessels.
Renin inhibitors - Aliskiren (Tekturna) slows down the production of renin, an enzyme produced by the kidneys that starts a cascade of chemical steps that increases blood pressure.
Thiazide diuretics - These are sometimes also called as "water pills", it acts on the kidneys to help the body eliminate sodium and water which reduce blood volume then.
If blood pressure goal is still not achieved with the combinations of the above medications taken, the doctor may also prescribe:
Alpha blockers - These medications reduce nerve impulses of blood vessels, thus reducing the effects of natural chemicals that narrow blood vessels.
Alpha-beta blockers - In addition to reducing nerve impulses to blood vessels, alpha-beta blockers also slow the heartbeat to help reduce the amount of blood that must be pumped through the vessels.
Central-acting agents - These medications tend to prevent the brain from sending signal to the nervous system to increase the heart rate and narrow the blood vessels.
Vasodilators - These medications work directly on the muscles of the walls of the arteries and then prevent the muscles from tightening and the arteries from narrowing.
Once the blood pressure is already under control, the doctor may prescribe for aspirin to be taken daily to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disorders.
