Blood pressure medications
Blood Pressure Medications
Blood pressure medications are a class of drugs that are used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). These medications work in different ways to lower blood pressure. Some remove extra fluid and salt from your body. Others slow down your heartbeat or relax and widen your blood vessels.
Types of Blood Pressure Medications
There are several types of blood pressure medications, each with its own benefits and side effects. These include:
- Diuretics (pronounced: di-yu-ret-iks): These help the kidneys remove sodium and water from the body, which reduces blood volume and lowers blood pressure.
- Beta blockers (pronounced: be-ta block-ers): These reduce the heart rate, the heart's workload and the heart's output of blood, which lowers blood pressure.
- ACE inhibitors (pronounced: ace in-hib-it-ors): These prevent the formation of a hormone called angiotensin II, which normally causes blood vessels to narrow.
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) (pronounced: an-gee-o-ten-sin two re-cep-tor block-ers): These block the action of angiotensin II, allowing blood vessels to widen.
- Calcium channel blockers (pronounced: cal-see-um chan-nel block-ers): These prevent calcium from entering the smooth muscle cells of the heart and arteries, which causes the blood vessels to relax and open.
Side Effects
Like all medications, blood pressure medications can have side effects. These can include dizziness, headache, fatigue, and more. It's important to discuss these potential side effects with your healthcare provider before starting any new medication.
See Also
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