Blood Pressure Medication
blood pressure medications are needed when blood pressure is very high. These medications are needed to lower elevated blood pressure quickly. According to National High Blood Pressure Education Program has recommended established guidelines for high blood pressure. This is a coalition of doctors, professionals, and voluntary organizations and government.
The information about medication mentioned here may differ from what your doctor has advised you. This depend what level of high blood pressure you are having and what is your medical condition. People with diseases other then blood pressure have to take 3 or more drugs to control multiple diseases.
Prehypertension (120/80 to 139/89)
This is the stage when one starts developing high blood pressure. There are no major symptoms which will alert you that you are having high blood pressure. If this remains undetected and not treated for long period then it can lead to high blood pressure disease. Undetected high blood pressure is dangerous situation and can lead to heart failure and kidney failure.
At this stage changes in lifestyle and doing exercise can reduce blood pressure. Ensure you are in touch with your doctor and take doctors help in getting advice on lifestyle changes and what exercise to do for lowering high blood pressure.
Prehypertension Lifestyle Changes1. Low intake of salt and sodium.
2. Stop smoking.
3. Eat lots of vegetables, fruits and low fat dairy products.
4. Excess weight in your body does no good to you it puts more pressure on heart to pump blood into vessels. Maintain healthy weight.
5. Daily exercise is needed for 30 minutes and more. In the beginning you can break this exercise into 2 or 3 parts session spread across the day. There can be many ways you can do exercise, starting with simple walk or brisk walk. Dog walking, swimming, aerobics and running are other exercises to adopt. Please take doctor’s advice before doing any active exercise.
6. Moderate or stop taking alcohol drinks.
7. Nuts and seeds such as walnut, flax and pumpkin seeds are good for lowering high blood pressure. Follow DASH diet.
8. Eat fish which as omega-3 such as Salmon.
In case you have other diseases along with prehypertension you might need medication. Your doctor will be in better position to advice you about medication and lifestyle changes.
High blood pressure (140/90 to 159/99)
Stage 1 of diseasesOnce your blood pressure numbers are between 140/90 to 159/89 your blood pressure condition has moved from prehypertension to stage 1 high blood pressure. At this point your doctor will recommend you trying diuretics medication. The diuretics are also called water pills. Diuretics help to flush excess water and sodium from the body. The lowering of excess water and sodium helps in lowering the blood pressure and with major changes in lifestyle will help in reducing blood pressure.
Doctor will recommend you medication and changes in lifestyle to control your blood pressure. Depending upon your medical condition you might need only diuretic medication along with changes in lifestyle to control your blood pressure.
Blood Pressure Drugs for Hypertension stage 1
1. Calcium Channel Blockers This drug is to prevent calcium going into heart and blood vessel and helps in relaxing cells and lowers blood pressure.
2. Beta Blockers This drug helps in reducing nerve signal to heart and blood vessel, which in turn helps in lowering blood pressure.
3. Angiotensin-converting enzyme This drug helps blood vessel to relax and helps blood vessel not to narrow. This drug is also helpful in reducing blood pressure.
Your doctor may recommend you one of these medications to bring down blood pressure. There can be other complications such as one suffering from diabetes etc. In such situation a combination of drug is needed to reduce high blood pressure.
High blood pressure (160/100 to Above)
Stage 2 of diseasesNow if your blood pressure numbers are falling in the range of 160/100 and above this is alarming situation. You are now in stage 2 of high blood pressure disease. At this point your doctor will prescribe you 3-4 medications to quickly reduce high blood pressure. Even in this case your doctor will start medication with diuretics to flush out excess water and sodium from the body. Keeping your high blood pressure number in view your doctor will prescribe you more medication to lower blood pressure.
Blood Pressure Drugs for Hypertension stage 2
1. Calcium Channel Blockers This drug is to prevent calcium going into heart and blood vessel and helps in relaxing cells and lowers blood pressure.
2. Beta Blockers This drug helps in reducing nerve signal to heart and blood vessel, which in turn helps in lowering blood pressure.
3. Angiotensin-converting enzyme This drug helps blood vessel to relax and helps blood vessel not to narrow. This drug is also helpful in reducing blood pressure.
4. ACE inhibitor This drug helps blood vessel from getting narrow which lowers pressure on heart and also lowers blood pressure.
At such higher elevation blood pressure can cause kidney failure and heart stroke problems. In stage 2 hypertension aggressive treatment and strong discipline for lifestyle in needed to lower blood pressure.
Take control of your medical situation by consulting doctor in early stages of blood pressure and same time bringing changes in your lifestyle. The medication and changes in lifestyle go hand in hand and are proven to lower blood pressure. Lastly monitor your blood pressure at least 2-3 times a day. Do not depend entirely on this blood monitoring equipment and at no point discard visit to Doctor. Your doctor is best to judge your medical situation. The statistics have shown that a combination of good drugs and changes in lifestyle have helped patient to lower blood pressure.
Blood Pressure Resource
NHLBI
WebMD
LifeClinic
Mayo Clinic
Blood Pressure Reading Chart
Following table gives details about blood pressure reading and how to understand each stage of blood pressure.
Blood Pressure Chart
Systolic Pressure |
Diastolic Pressure |
Current Condition |
What to do |
Read More |
| Below 120 | Below 80 | Normal Blood Pressure | Adopt a healthy lifestyle | [read more] |
| 120 - 139 | 80 - 89 | Prehypertension | Adopt a healthy lifestyle | [read more] |
| 140 - 159 | 90 - 99 | Stage 1 hypertension | Adopt a healthy lifestyle Medication Required | [read more] |
| Above 160 | Above 100 | Stage 2 hypertension | Adopt a healthy lifestyle Medication Required | [read more] |
