Most Popular Medications for High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Overview of Blood Pressure And Hypertension

Before we can talk about hypertension, or an elevated blood pressure, we first do a brief overview of what blood pressure is.

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the inside walls of arteries. Arteries are tiny pipes that carry oxygen rich blood all over throughout your body.

Blood pressure is measured with two numbers:

• Top number = Systolic pressure

  • Pressure when the heart is BEATING

• Bottom number = Diastolic pressure

  • Pressure when the heart is RESTING (in-between heart beats)

During HTN, that blood is pushing with TOO MUCH FORCE within the arteries themselves. This usually occurs because the structural integrity of our arteries, or our pipes, become narrowed. This occurs for several reasons (which can be found in my HTN section here).

Medications

Blood pressure medications act predominantly on the 3 major areas:

1. Heart

   • These medications reduce the workload on your heart by decreasing both the strength of your hearts contraction and the rate at which it beats. Fewer beats and less strength of contraction reduces how much blood is being pumped out by your heart (Cardiac Output) = Lower blood pressure.

   • Examples include:

     • Beta blockers (Metoprolol, Propanolol)

2. Kidneys

   • These medications cause your kidneys to move more salt and water from your blood into your urine—> removing blood volume. Less blood volume = Lower blood pressure.

   • Examples include:

     • Loop diuretics (Furosemide)

     • Thiazide diuretics (Hydrochlorothiazide or HCTZ)

3. Blood Vessels

   • These medications relax your arteries and increase their diameter. Bigger diameter = more room for blood to travel = lower blood pressure

   • Examples include:

     • Ace inhibitors (Lisinopril)

     • Angiotensin II Receptor blockers (Losartan)

     • Calcium channel blockers (Amlodipine)