Treatment FAQ

what is the most effective treatment for hypertension

by Litzy Ondricka Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The two classes of medication are both recommended as "first-line" treatments for high blood pressure: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
ACE inhibitors are used to treat a number of heart-related conditions, including high blood pressure, heart failure, heart attack, and preventing kidney damage associated with high blood pressure and diabetes. Examples of ACE inhibitors include: Capoten (captopril)
https://www.webmd.com › guide › treatment-ace-inhibitors
and angiotensin receptor blockers
angiotensin receptor blockers
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) have similar effects as ACE inhibitors, another type of blood pressure drug, but work by a different mechanism. These drugs block the effect of angiotensin II, a chemical that narrows blood vessels.
https://www.webmd.com › guide › treatment-angiotensin-ii
(ARBs)
. ACE inhibitors have been around longer and studied more extensively, so doctors prescribe them more often.
Jul 26, 2021

Medication

  • Principles of drug therapy: Chlorthalidone (12.5-25 mg) is the preferred diuretic because of long half-life and proven reduction of CVD risk. ...
  • Initial first-line therapy for stage 1 hypertension includes thiazide diuretics, CCBs, and ACE inhibitors or ARBs. ...
  • CKD: BP goal should be <130/80 mm Hg. ...

More items...

Nutrition

[1] Some of the best herbs to control high blood pressure include ginkgo biloba, hawthorn, green tea, basil and turmeric, among others. As an ancient Chinese remedy, hawthorn has been known as an anti-inflammatory and cardio-protective herb for generations.

What is the best first line of treatment for hypertension?

Worst Drug # 4: Chlorothiazide, sold as "Diuril". Diuril, like any diuretic or so-called "water pill", increases your risk of painful muscle cramping, paralysis, seizure, and even slipping into a coma because it flushes out vital nutrients that your body needs to keep working properly.

What are the best natural herbs for hypertension?

The following list includes most of the commonly prescribed combination drugs used for hypertension:

  • Moduretic (amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide)
  • Lotrel (amlodipine and benazepril)
  • Tenoretic (atenolol and chlorthalidone)
  • Lotensin HCT (benazepril and hydrochlorothiazide)
  • Ziac (bisoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide)
  • Capozide (captopril and hydrochlorothiazide)
  • Vaseretic (enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide)
  • Lexxel (felodipine and enalapril)

More items...

What are the 4 worst blood pressure drugs?

What are the most common medications for hypertension?

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What are 3 ways to treat hypertension?

Here's what you can do:Eat healthy foods. Eat a heart-healthy diet. ... Decrease the salt in your diet. Aim to limit sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day or less. ... Maintain a healthy weight. ... Increase physical activity. ... Limit alcohol. ... Don't smoke. ... Manage stress. ... Monitor your blood pressure at home.More items...•

What is the most effective hypertension medication?

the ACE inhibitor lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) tops the list, followed by amlodipine besylate (Norvasc), a calcium channel blocker, and. generic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).

What is the best first line treatment for hypertension?

There are three main classes of medication that are usually in the first line of treatment for hypertension: 1. Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB) 2. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors or ACE-I) and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) 3. Diuretics.

What is the drug of choice for the treatment of hypertension?

Thiazide diuretics — The preferred thiazide diuretic in patients with primary hypertension is chlorthalidone since major trials such as ALLHAT have shown benefit with this regimen. Indapamide, another thiazide-like diuretic, may be used in place of chlorthalidone.

Which high blood pressure medication has the least side effects?

While the class of blood pressure-lowering medicines called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may be prescribed more commonly, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) work just as well and may cause fewer side effects.

Can high blood pressure be cured?

There is no cure for high blood pressure. But treatment can lower blood pressure that is too high. If it is mild, high blood pressure may sometimes be brought under control by making changes to a healthier lifestyle.

Which beta blocker is best for hypertension?

Propranolol and atenolol have been studied most intensely in hypertension. For secondary prevention of myocardial infarction, the evidence is best for timolol. Sotalol is probably the best antiarrhythmic among the beta-blockers.

Other Medications Sometimes Used to Treat High Blood Pressure

If you're unable to reach your blood pressure goal with one or more of the above medications, other drugs that lower blood pressure include: 1. Alp...

High Blood Pressure and Other Health Problems

High blood pressure often goes hand in hand with other health problems, including: 1. Heart failure 2. Previous heart attack or stroke 3. Coronary...

Keep Trying to Reach Your Blood Pressure Goal

It's not unusual to try several medications or doses before finding what works best for you. An important way for you and your doctor to know if yo...

What is the best way to reduce blood pressure?

Diuretics . Diuretics , sometimes called water pills, help the kidneys get rid of excess water and salt (sodium). This reduces the volume of blood that needs to pass through the blood vessels. As a result, blood pressure goes down. There are three major types of diuretics defined by how they work.

What is considered high blood pressure?

The goal is to get your blood pressure below the high range. If normal is less than 120/80 mm Hg, what’s high? When the systolic blood pressure — the top number — is between 120 and 129, and the diastolic blood pressure — the bottom number — is less than 80, this is considered elevated blood pressure.

How does catecholamine affect blood pressure?

The muscles around some blood vessels have what are known as alpha-1 or alpha adrenergic receptors. When a catecholamine binds to an alpha-1 receptor, the muscle contracts, the blood vessel narrows, and blood pressure rises.

How to make the most of your treatment?

To make the most of your treatment, it’s vital to get regular medical checkups and blood pressure tests. Regular checkups allow your doctor to monitor how well your treatment is going and make any necessary adjustments to your treatment plan.

What is the purpose of calcium channel blockers?

Calcium channel blockers limit calcium from entering the smooth muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels. This makes the heart beat less forcefully with each beat and helps blood vessels relax.

What is resistant hypertension?

Resistant hypertension refers to blood pressure that remains high after trying at least three different types of blood pressure medication. Someone whose high blood pressure is controlled by taking four different kinds of medication is considered to have resistant hypertension.

How to get blood pressure back to normal?

Sometimes, lifestyle changes are enough to return your blood pressure to normal levels. These changes may include diet, exercise, and weight loss. If your high blood pressure continues, be sure to consult a doctor who can prescribe the appropriate medication. Last medically reviewed on February 27, 2019.

What is the first line of therapy for high blood pressure?

Diuretics are often recommended as the first line of therapy for most people who have high blood pressure. However, your doctor may start a medicine other than a diuretic as the first line of therapy if you have certain medical problems. For example, ACE inhibitors are often a choice for people with diabetes.

What to do if blood pressure is 20/10?

If your blood pressure is more than 20/10 points higher than it should be, your doctor may consider starting you on two drugs or placing you on a combination drug.

How to reduce blood pressure with alcohol?

Getting regular aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking at least 30 minutes a day, several days a week) Limiting alcohol to two drinks a day for men, one drink a day for women. In addition to lowering blood pressure, these measures enhance the effectiveness of high blood pressure drugs.

What is considered high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is now classified as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 and diastolic over 80. To prevent high blood pressure, everyone should be encouraged to make lifestyle modifications, such as eating a healthier diet, quitting smoking, and getting more exercise. Treatment with medication is recommended to lower blood pressure ...

Why is high blood pressure dangerous?

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is dangerous because it can lead to strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, or kidney disease. The goal of hypertension treatment is to lower high blood pressure and protect important organs, like the brain, heart, and kidneys from damage. Treatment for hypertension has been associated with reductions in stroke ...

How to control high blood pressure?

Try these lifestyle changes to help lower and control your blood pressure. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and reduce the amount of sodium in your diet. ...

What are some examples of blood pressure medications?

Examples are spironolactone (Aldactone, Carospir) and eplerenone (Inspra). How well a drug works for you can depend on your age, sex, race, blood pressure level and overall health.

What are some examples of ACE inhibitors?

There are several ACE inhibitors available. Examples include enalapril (Vasotec, Epaned), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril, Qbrelis) and ramipril (Altace). Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). These drugs block the action of angiotensin, a chemical in your body that narrows your arteries and veins.

What are some examples of beta blockers?

Examples of beta blockers include metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL), nadolol (Corgard) and atenolol (Tenormin). Renin inhibitors. Renin is a substance produced by your kidneys that triggers a series of steps that increases blood pressure.

What are some examples of calcium channel blockers?

Examples of calcium channel blockers include amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac, others), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia) and verapamil (Verelan, Calan). Beta blockers. These drugs work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline.

What are some examples of medications that can cause high blood pressure?

Examples include hydralazine and minoxidil. Aldosterone antagonists. These medications are often used with other drugs, such as a diuretic. Aldosterone antagonists block the hormone aldosterone, which sometimes causes salt and fluid retention, contributing to high blood pressure.

What are the different types of diuretics?

There are three types of diuretics: thiazide, loop and potassium-sparing. Examples of diuretics include chlorothiazide (Diuril), bumetanide (Bumex) and amiloride (Midamor). If diuretics aren't enough to lower your blood pressure, your doctor might recommend adding other blood pressure medications to your treatment.

What is the best medication for low blood pressure?

Calcium Channel Blockers. Calcium channel blockers are drugs used to lower blood pressure. They work by slowing the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessel walls, which makes it easier for the heart to pump and widens blood vessels. ACE Inhibitors.

What is a beta blocker?

Beta-blockers are drugs used to treat high blood pressure. They block the effects of the sympathetic nervous system on the heart. Alternative Treatmens for Hypertension. There are many types of complementary and alternative treatments believed to be effective for treating hypertension. Get the facts on your options.

What is the best way to get rid of salt in urine?

Diuretics, commonly known as "water pills," help your body get rid of unneeded water and salt through the urine. Getting rid of excess salt and fluid helps lower blood pressure and can make it easier for your heart to pump. Beta-Blockers. Beta-blockers are drugs used to treat high blood pressure.

Is fish oil good for high blood pressure?

Get the facts on your options. Dietary fish and fish oil supplements have benefits for healthy people and people with high blood pressure and heart disease alike. People who smoke are more likely to develop problems like high blood pressure and heart disease. Learn more and get tips on quitting and avoiding relapses.

What is the medical term for high blood pressure?

Medications for High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) High blood pressure is a term that is used to acknowledge that a person’s blood pressure is above what is considered normal. High blood pressure is also called hypertension. Measuring somebody's blood pressure gives us an indication of how effectively their heart is working to pump blood ...

Why is blood pressure high?

If their heart is having to work very hard to pump blood around their body, then their blood pressure will be high. Blood pressure is composed of two measurements. The first recording is called the systolic pressure and it measures the force the heart must pump against to get blood to flow around the body.

What is the second recording of blood pressure?

The second recording is called diastolic pressure. This measures the resting pressure when the heart relaxes between heartbeats. It is recorded while the blood pressure cuff is deflating.

Why does blood pressure cause a weak heart?

It also causes the heart to enlarge and weaken because it essentially wears itself out from having to work so hard to push blood around the body. People with high blood pressure are also more likely to develop high cholesterol, kidney and eye problems, and have poor circulation in the legs and feet.

What is the normal blood pressure?

It is recorded while the blood pressure cuff is deflating. Most experts consider a normal blood pressure to be 120/80 mm Hg. Ideally, everybody’s blood pressure should be below 130/80 mm Hg. If the first number is above 130 or the second number is above 80 then a person is said to have high blood pressure.

Can high blood pressure cause headaches?

Sometimes people may develop a headache or feel unwell; however, most do not connect these vague symptoms as having to do with their heart. If high blood pressure is left untreated, it can damage the blood vessels and increase a person’s risk of having a stroke or a heart attack.

Should blood pressure be taken before diagnosis?

For this reason, if a doctor or nurse takes your blood pressure and it is high but you don’t have any risk factors or symptoms, then at least two other separate measurements should be taken before you are diagnosed with high blood pressure.

How many people have high blood pressure?

The American Heart Association states that over 100 million Americans have high blood pressure ( BP ). It is defined as at or above 130/80. That means roughly 1 out of every 2 adults in the United States has hypertension. If it can’t be controlled by diet, weight loss or exercise, chances are good the doctor will prescribe medication.

Which is more effective, hydrochlorothiazide or ACE inhibitor?

The researchers discovered that old-fashioned diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide were more effective than many popular blood pressure medications. For initial treatment, the diuretics outperformed ACE inhibitors like lisinopril, calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine and angiotensin receptor blockers like losartan or valsartan.

Is BP medication effective?

Doctors have long assumed that all BP drugs are similarly effective in protecting people from heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. If two different kinds of medications get blood pressure at or below 130/80 many doctors may conclude that they are comparable.

Is calcium channel blocker effective?

Calcium channel blockers (also known as calcium antagonists) were less effective than all of the other classes of blood pressure medications. This comprehensive study suggested that if doctors had started treatment with thiazide-type BP drugs instead of ACE inhibitors like lisinopril:

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Diagnosis

Clinical Trials

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Alternative Medicine

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Karthikeya T M
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Simple lifestyle changes can regulate high blood pressure, but when blood pressure is very high or lifestyle measures fail, medications for life long will be recommended.
Medication

Beta blockers: Helps in reducing the heart rate thus decreasing the blood pressure.

Acebutolol . Atenolol . Betaxolol


Diuretics: Increases urination which in turn reduces the sodium and fluid content resulting in decreasing blood pressure.

Bumetanide . Chlorthalidone . Chlorothiazide


Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: Widens the blood vessels thereby aiding in easy blood flow and reduce the blood pressure.

Captopril . Fosinopril . Lisinopril . Ramipril


Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs): Helps relax the blood vessels to lower the pressure.

Losartan . Telmisartan


Calcium channel blockers: Reduces the amount of calcium entering heart muscles thereby reducing the heart rate and controlling blood pressure.

Amlodipine . Felodipine . Isradipine


Alpha blockers: The muscles of arteries and veins are relaxed thus reducing the blood pressure.

Doxazosin . Prazosin . Terazosin


Renin inhibitors: Inhibits the enzyme that favors the production of angiotensin (a peptide hormone, which aids in regulation of blood pressure) which constricts blood vessels.

Aliskiren

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Eat more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods
  • Cut back on foods that are High in saturated fat, cholesterol, and trans fats
  • Eat more whole-grain foods, fish, poultry, and nuts

Foods to avoid:

  • Frozen foods
  • Salty and sugary foods
  • Caffeine and alcohol
  • Red meats

Specialist to consult

Cardiologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and management heart related disorders.
Primary care physician
Specializes in the acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health.

Coping and Support

  • Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history and do a physical examination. The doctor, nurse or other medical assistant will place an inflatable arm cuff around your arm and measure your blood pressure using a pressure-measuring gauge. Your blood pressure generally …
See more on mayoclinic.org

Preparing For Your Appointment

  • Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
See more on mayoclinic.org

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