Blood pressure refers to the force of blood pushing against artery walls. Too much pressure can cause damage to arteries. Consistent high blood pressure forces the heart to work beyond its capacity and can damage brain, eyes, and kidneys. Many Doctors will suggest lifestyle changes before prescribing drugs.
Lifestyle changes include quitting smoking, losing weight, eating right, exercise, reducing stress, and limiting alcohol consumption.
Sometimes hypertension requires drug therapy, either because of severity or because it does not respond to self-help measures. Blood pressure medication usually needs to be taken for life. A number of drugs are used alone or in combination to treat high blood pressure: Diuretics, or water pills, rid the body of salt and excess fluids. Beta-blockers make the heart beat more slowly and with less force. These are particularly effective in people with heart disease. Calcium-channel blockers reduce blood pressure by dilating blood vessels. These drugs remain somewhat controversial. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors block factors that cause blood vessels to constrict, making them dilate and thus reducing blood pressure. These drugs can decrease risk of kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke and are especially useful in people with heart disease or diabetes. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are a newer type of blood pressure medicine, which work in a similar way to ACE inhibitors. Alpha1-adrenergic blockers and centrally acting agents lower blood pressure by relaxing and dilating arteries.