Treatment Options for High Blood Pressure
Treatment Options for High Blood Pressure
When a person has high blood pressure, there is an increase in the
amount of blood pumped, along with narrowing arteries that are increasingly
resistant to blood flow. If left untreated, the risk of serious health
conditions such as heart attack and stroke increases. The risk of hypertension
increases with age. Typically, symptoms are not present until
blood pressure has risen to dangerous levels. Usually, the cause of high
blood pressure is unknown. Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure
caused by another condition, such as kidney abnormalities or congenital
heart defects. Certain types of over-the-counter medications, such
as decongestants and pain relievers, also may cause secondary hypertension.
A variety of types of medications may be prescribed for high blood
pressure. Thiazide diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide),
increase the elimination of sodium and water from the body. Beta-blockers,
such as atenolol (Tenormin) and nebivolol (Bystolic), a newer betablocker,
also work to reduce blood pressure. Angiotensin-converting enzyme
(ACE) inhibitors, such as benazepril (Lotensin) and ramipril (Altace),
and angiotensin II receptor blockers, such as candesartan (Atacand),
affect the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system and reduce blood pressure.