| name: | High Blood Pressure Medicine |
| also known as: | Antihypertensive Medications; Anti-Hypertensive Medications |
| also see: | Alpha Blockers; Beta Blockers; Guanethidine; Diuretics; Vasodilators; Ace Inhibitors; Ace II Inhibitors; High Blood Pressure |
| description: | The nervous system is comprised of the central nervous system, brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system, motor and autonomic. The motor system, also called somatic nervous system, moves skeletal muscle. The autonomic system is further divided into the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is the "flight or fight" system. The parasympathetic nervous system is the "rest and digest" system. The sympathetic nervous system is triggered by chemicals variously called: catecholamines, adrenergic agonists, or sympathomimetics. Within this system are four types of receptors, alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1, and beta 2 and each receptor type effects a certain part of the body. Some catecholamines trigger all four receptors while others are more selective in their action. Knowing this, certain sympathomimetics can be used as drugs to treat a particular problem. Alpha 1 receptors are involved with vasoconstriction, decrease intestinal motility, bladder sphincter contraction, ejaculation, uterine contraction, and pupil dilation. Alpha 2 receptors primarily work to inhibit further alpha 1 action as a negative feedback loop. Beta 1 receptors work primarily to stimulate the heart to contract more forcibly. Beta 2 receptors work on the heart to contract, too, and also work to relax lung smooth muscle leading to lung airway dilation (bronchodilation), uterus relaxation and bladder relaxation.Diuretics work to remove excess fluid from the body through the kidneys. Vasodilators open up blood vessels reducing the resistance to flow. ACE inhibitors also open up blood vessels and reduce resistance to flow as well as inhibit aldosterone, which is a body hormone that retains salt and water. The main groups of antihypertensive medications include: alpha blockers, beta blockers, diuretics, vasodilators, ACE inhibitors and ACE II inhibitors. The alpha blockers primarily reduce heart output, the beta blockers reduce peripheral resistance, diuretics reduce blood volume and in turn, the work of the heart, vasodilators reduce peripheral resistance, and ACE inhibitors and in a similar fashion ACE II inhibitors reduce peripheral resistance and reduce aldosterone which reduces volume. |
| signs & symptoms: | Side effects of high blood pressure medicine vary depending upon the drug used. High blood pressure can be divided into three stages: Stage 1 - Mild: Systolic BP 140-159 and/or Diastolic BP 90-99 Stage 2 - Moderate: Systolic BP 160-180 and/or Diastolic BP 100-110 Stage 3 - Severe: Systolic BP > 180 and/or Diastolic BP > 110 |
| treatment: | Varies, depending upon the drug used. Since there are a great number of blood pressure medicines to choose from, the doctor will often follow these guidelines. First, a single drug is used when at all possible except for severe hypertension. Usually, first line drugs of choice are the beta blockers or diuretics. ACE inhibitors are often a first line drug of choice, too. However, if the person has other medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, angina, coronary artery disease, heart arrhythmia, and so on, other drugs that treat high blood pressure and also these other conditions might be selected preferentially, or in addition to. 1. alpha blockers primarily reduce heart output 2. beta blockers reduce peripheral resistance 3. diuretics reduce blood volume and in turn, the work of the heart 4. vasodilators reduce peripheral resistance 5. ACE inhibitors reduce peripheral resistance and reduce aldosterone which reduces volume, and in a similar fashion 6. ACE II inhibitors reduce peripheral resistance and reduce aldosterone which reduces volume 7. alpha adrenergics cause vasodilation Some guidelines: 1. beta blockers and diuretics are the most common and effective 2. ACE inhibitors and ACE II inhibitors are often used in people with concurrent diabetes and/or congestive heart failure 3. alpha adrenergics are often used in men with prostate enlargement 4. beta blockers are often used in patients with coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, or migraine headache 5. calcium channel blockers which are vasodilators are often used in patients with asthma or migraine headache |
skynetMD suggests the following:
| if: | If you have questions, problems, or concerns regarding any medication |
| go to: | Go to the phone and ask your pharmacist or your doctor, or go to the doctor. |
| if: | If the person would like a high blood pressure Internet Resource |
| go to: | Go to The American Society of Hypertension www.ash-us.org |
Last updated 9/20/2008