Hypertension Medications
If you have high blood pressure (hypertension), you may need to take medications to help lower your blood pressure. People with hypertension who take blood pressure medications daily are much less likely to have a heart attack or stroke. You will get the most from your medications when you take them as prescribed. You can also help your medications work more effectively by making healthy choices. Taking steps to control your weight, to be physically active, to quit smoking, to eat foods lower in sodium, and to limit or eliminate alcohol can help lower your blood pressure.
What is hypertension?
Hypertension is a condition of higher than normal blood pressure. Blood pressure is a force that is exerted by your blood upon the walls of your blood vessels. This force, or pressure, enables blood to pump effectively throughout your body and everyone needs a certain amount of pressure to make this process possible. When the force of blood against your artery walls is too strong, however, you have high blood pressure, or hypertension.
When you have hypertension, your heart has to work harder than it should to send blood throughout your body. By lowering your blood pressure, you can help take this extra demand off your heart and blood vessels. Blood pressure measurements for normal blood pressure, prehypertension, and hypertension are:
What are the most commonly prescribed hypertension medications and how do they work?
- Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) or chlorthalidone are examples of diuretics. Diuretics work in the kidneys by helping your body get rid of excess water and sodium through urine. Having extra fluid can contribute to high blood pressure.
- Lisinopril is an example of an ACE inhibitor. ACE inhibitors work by causing the blood vessels to relax and widen. This increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the organs (heart, kidneys and brain) and helps the heart beat more easily. This medication may be especially helpful for people that already have diabetes, kidney problems, heart disease, heart failure, have had a stroke or have other conditions that affect blood vessels.
- Prinzide is a combination of HCTZ (a diuretic) and lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor). This medication gives a person the benefit of both of the medications described above. Because most people with high blood pressure need to take two or more medications to control their blood pressure, this medication is a convenient and economical way to get two effective blood pressure medications, which work well together, in one pill. If you take a diuretic and an ACE inhibitor, ask your doctor if you can switch to Prinzide.
- Atenolol is an example of a beta blocker. Beta blockers reduce the workload of the heart by relaxing the heart muscle and slowing down the heart rate. This allows your heart to pump blood more easily.
- Felodipine or nifedipine are examples of a calcium channel blocker. This medication works by relaxing the muscles around your arteries. Relaxing the muscles around your arteries makes it easier for your heart to pump blood.