Blood Pressure Medicines: Symptoms of High BP, Causes and Treatment of BP

Blood Pressure Medicines

High Blood Pressure Overview

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common and preventable medical condition. The youngs have high blood pressure, and that number jumps up to 90% for people over 65 years old. Hypertension not only raises the risk of stroke, kidney disease, heart attacks, and other health issues, but it also increases mortality by nearly 50%.

Hypertension occurs when the amount of pressure that your arteries squeeze out of you is too much. Your heart pumps blood to all parts of the body, so when your heart feels like it’s working harder than normal, the extra pressure your arteries are putting on everything they have to push is causing your heart to pump more blood to compensate.

If left untreated, this imbalance can lead to further damage, such as an enlarged heart or blood vessel damage and strokes. If left without treatment, hypertension may progress to major health complications, with no cure. This article explains the causes of high blood pressure, the types of medications used to treat high blood pressure.

The Meaning of Blood Pressure:

Blood pressure is a measurement that is made by placing your fingertip on a scale or stadiometer and feeling much force it generates when you are pressing down. If the energy is less, then your blood pressure is normal (between 135/95 mm Hg and 150/90 mm Hg). Most people can feel it in their hands but if the person has a heart condition such as a heart attack, the BP will be higher. However, most people will have normal BP readings when they are sitting still in one position for a short time. When talking about blood pressure, a high BP can mean either too much fluid being pushed through the capillaries in arteries or your body not using enough oxygen to get rid of the extra fluid. In both cases, BP should go back to normal. Low BP causes the heart to move harder and push more blood than usual out of the veins (called vasodilation), which allows for improved blood flow throughout the body. High BP causes the body's arteries to narrow, which makes it hard for nutrients to pass through and impairs heart function. A healthy BP reading is somewhere between 120 over 85 or 160 over 90 or higher, also known as good or excellent arterial reserve. An example of this is when a doctor determines that something in the patient’s blood has changed so he or she needs immediate treatment. If there are no signs of any abnormalities, there is always hope that low BP will return in a few months, after which there is no longer a chance to treat it. 

My Doctor See Me Have Normal BP

Although every human’s heart and circulatory system may seem different from each other, BP remains the same throughout these systems. It does not matter if the left side of a right arm or the back of an upper leg may vary when a patient has a BP reading that is considered abnormal. This may be due to minor variations in skin color, hair texture, muscle tone, posture, or even the different parts of their inner ear. A GP can use his or her judgment to determine whether a patient’s BP reading is within normal limits or high enough to warrant further examination.

The doctor’s decision to take a test is based on the following factors: Evidence of swelling anywhere else in the body. No evidence of a change in consciousness or fever. Reduced breathing rate with an increased depth of respiratory sounds (respiratory crackles to indicate wheezing). Increased perspiration (sweating) and pulse rate. Decreased response to light and stimuli. Pain experienced in the jaw, neck, or chest, with nausea or vomiting. Unexplained weight loss. Fatigue with exertion; reduced ability to concentrate. Skin changes such as darkening, sagging, aching, or discoloration. Weakness and pain. Dizziness. Shortness of breath. Numbness in arms or legs. Any other abnormality, especially in young children who are otherwise normal on the BP scale or whose BP is not rising or falling rapidly.

 

Examples of BP Symmetry

Asymmetry is an overall pattern in the size or shape of BP readings. Both systolic and diastolic BP readings are normally symmetrical.

 

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure:

Symptoms are divided into 3 groups: sudden, persistent, and unavoidable. Each group includes things like headache, dizziness, sweating, weakness, palpitations, fatigue, confusion, numbness of limbs (tendinitis), tingling or warm sensation in hands, feet, or face, vision changes, nausea or vomiting, chest pain, and coughing. By definition, sudden is occurring

 

Causes of BP:

Factors contributing to high or low BP. High BP causes the heart to beat faster and harder. This makes it harder for blood to flow through the vessels. Also, having increased blood volume causes the walls of the vessel to stretch and widen. As a result, the blood vessel becomes narrow, restricting blood from flowing and increasing pressure. Higher amounts of sodium are absorbed by the cells. 

 

Causes of Hypercholesterolemia

High cholesterol is associated with high blood pressure. When your blood levels of cholesterol build up too much, as they do with many cardiovascular diseases, or there is not enough cholesterol in your bloodstream, your body makes less of the good cholesterol known as “good” cholesterol and adds to the bad cholesterol, which is called “bad.” High blood cholesterol then builds up into plaque, the hardened fatty material deposited in your arteries. Atherosclerotic plaques, especially from high cholesterol, form a stiff layer of fatty deposits that increase the workload of your artery walls. As a result, your heart can work harder to deliver the blood you need.

Other factors related to diet, stress, environmental exposure, aging, and certain medications, including diuretics and ACE inhibitors, can contribute to elevated cholesterol levels. Other risk factors for High Cholesterol include increased age, obesity, family history, diabetes or prediabetes, lack of exercise, chronic inflammation, use of alcohol and tobacco, pregnancy, obesity during early childhood, and genetic predisposition for developing abnormal cholesterol levels.

Diagnosing High Cholesterol Naturally

Your doctor will take your medical history, complete a physical exam and review your lab tests to see if they warrant additional testing.  Although your primary care provider will perform an annual check-up, these labs are always available to most Americans at home. However, if blood cholesterol isn't within healthy limits, treatment may be required, which starts with making lifestyle adjustments and managing the causes of raised cholesterol.

There are two categories of drugs commonly prescribed to help reduce high cholesterol, each with slightly different effects and mechanisms of action. These classes of drugs:

Prostacyclin-blocking drugs block prostaglandins from binding themselves to receptors found on cells lining the blood vessels, preventing them from being released during high amounts of blood volume in the blood vessels. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), also called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), act on specific kinds of chemical compounds in the cell as pain relievers and suppress immune activity. While NSAIDs work by blocking the production of proteins involved in the inflammatory process, they do not stop the breakdown of cellular substances.

Treatment Options

Treatment options for high BP are focused on to help keep the body in balance, reduce blood pressure, reduce risk factors, treat disorders that cause high BP, and prevent complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney and lung diseases. To reduce blood pressure, a doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and prescribe drugs.

There are 2 general approaches to reducing BP:

BP-lowering medications and BP-elevating drugs.

Treatment options include:

Lifestyle changes:

Foods rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium, and vitamins E/K, B complex and flavonoids, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts, lean meats, fish, fatty fish, chicken.

Reduce sodium intake:

Eat less processed food, limit white bread; choose lower-fat dairy products, canned sardines, and pickled veggies; cook without added oils or butter in small amounts, sauteed vegetables, and add chopped, rather than fried. Replace sugary drinks like sodas and juices with unsweetened beverages. Get plenty of physical activity and walk, swim, and play tennis, basketball, and soccer. Use running sticks and balls instead of walking or jogging to lose weight, since exercise can burn calories and keep blood pressure low. Avoid alcohol, smoking cigarettes, chewing or snacking on gum, and chewing gum. Limit caffeine to <200 mg/day for women and <110 mg/day for men to slow or prevent elevated BP. If someone with uncontrolled diabetes has BP or sugar levels higher than 100 mg per deciliter, it’s recommended that the doctor check sugar levels more regularly. Consider trying these tips and making the following changes to lower your BP: Choose lighter foods, drink pure fruit juice with added sugar and avoid ice cream. Consume fewer salty snacks to replace processed snack foods; eat dried fruits, spices, and herbs.

BPs: These drugs reduce the resistance of blood vessels or vessels in order to increase blood flow and promote relaxation. For instance, diuretics can cause hypotensive shock and kidney failure, while calcium channel blockers can cause irregular heartbeat, seizures, or a seizure disorder. Doctors have to decide before prescribing a drug if it will affect the bone mineral density and lead to osteoporosis, which may make bone fractures more likely. Some BP medications can become toxic if taken with certain other medications. With proper dose management, doctors know where their medication lies. Doctors recommend caution when prescribing BP drugs because they might have serious side effects, including severe depression, liver problems, heart failure, ulcers, kidney damage, stroke, nerve damage, and heart attacks. Drugs usually come in two categories: beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers. These drugs are mostly used alone or with another type of medicine. Other BP medicines include ACE inhibitors to reduce heart attacks and prevent strokes, angiotensin II receptor antagonists to control hypertension, angiotensin II receptor blockers to treat hypertension and prevent a heart attack, and thiazides, which are anti-nausea drugs that help regulate stomach acid. If BP pills are not helpful, diuretics are often prescribed to improve urine output to encourage weight loss. Anticholinergic amlodipine to open the bowels and treat diarrhea and furosemide to treat sleep apnea help with fatigue, cramps, and pain. Medication is available at many pharmacies now.

Doctors prescribe BP drugs only if symptoms persist. Many times, BP medications do not work for everyone. Doctors make predictions about the BP medicines a patient will respond well to, but they can also miss opportunities to try those patients on other drugs. Sometimes, it is possible to have several drugs work together toward the same goal.

There are 4 basic types of BP medications:

·        Calcium channel blockers.

·        Diuretics.

·        Angiotensin ii inhibitors.

·        Adrenergic reuptake inhibitors.

·        Ca channel blockers.

like nifedipine, are effective when given together with a statin or cholesterol pill. Diuretics are used to control excess fluid in the urine. Angiotensin II blockade helps patients manage hypertension, increases the amount of salt and water the body absorbs when needed, and reduces thirst. Adrenergic inhibitors stop reuptake of epinephrine, the hormone that triggers the sympathetic nervous system and lowers blood pressure when needed. Physicians also have different doses prescribed depending on the underlying cause of the disease and the age of the patient.

 

Types Of Medications Used to Treat Hypertension and Prevention Techniques;

 

Because hypertension is usually caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries of the heart and other organs, treating it with medication removes any potential risks to the person while also allowing their bodies to adjust and heal. Two classes of medications are used for hypertension. Drugs that can prevent the growth of plaque (anticoagulants) and those used to control bleeding (antithrombotic medications). Both options reduce pressure on the veins in the arm, making it easier to dilate the arteries, but in different ways. Anticoagulation medications remove excess calcium and other minerals that harden or constrict blood vessels and can improve blood pressure. Antithrombotic medications such as warfarin or clopidogrel prevent platelets from clumping together in blood vessels.

Warfarin blocks the clotting of blood clots, thus preventing heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolism in people with unstable angina. Warfarin was originally developed under FDA approval to prevent venous thromboembolic events (VTE), but it has become a standard treatment to prevent VTE and is considered the gold standard for this type of DVT (deep vein thrombosis). Clopidogrel prevents platelet aggregation and lowers the risk of clots.

One problem is that the medication contains heparin, which can cause stomach ulcers, kidney stones, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Another issue is that in the case of an emergency, heparin is fatal, and in rare cases, it may be life-threatening. Since it is not meant for people with active anticoagulants, it can be challenging to get someone with high bleeding (high risk of bleeding) who has never taken warfarin or clopidogrel on a warfarin-based regimen for thrombocytopenia. Doctors who prescribe.

 

ACE Inhibitors vs. ARB Blockers

ACE I/II inhibitors (also referred to as direct renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and propranolol) were originally developed to relieve chest pain and prevent sudden death or sudden cardiac death in patients with myocardial infarction (heart attack) who had received an angioplasty. They also have been approved for lowering blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

ARB (angiotensin II receptor blocker) works by increasing the production of nitric oxide in the blood vessels, which dilates the blood vessels and reduces blood pressure. Both of these medications must be taken as needed, but one pill only once daily because they have a short half-life, meaning they usually disappear quickly.

ACE-I/II and ARB are considered first-line treatments for heart failure and high blood pressure. There are new agents being studied and evaluated for their ability to improve outcomes for those who already have been diagnosed with either. For example, several trials are currently investigating whether combining aspirin and a thiazide class of medication would be safe with statins or a statin alone. Furthermore, several clinical trials are evaluating the safety and efficacy of using sildenafil with clopidogrel, which has been shown to improve outcomes for those on chemotherapy, when given in combination with adalimumab. Finally, some newer studies are investigating combinations of multiple medication drugs such as sildenafil and metformin or verapamil with dolmanidol, both of which have been shown to improve outcomes after end-of-life cardiopulmonary resuscitation with bypass surgery.

 

Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channels are proteins in living muscle that change electrical conductivity in response to calcium influx. Many chronic diseases, particularly osteoporosis, heart failure, and heart arrhythmias, are caused by calcium overload (hypercalcemia). Osteoporosis refers to bone loss, which means bones become weak and fragile, or brittle, and weakens the way they bounce back after an injury or even just because we don’t exercise enough. Over time, the more porous bone is, the greater the likelihood of fractures. Heart failure and heart disease, including coronary artery disease, is a buildup of calcium in the artery walls, thereby narrowing the channels between the muscles to allow blood to flow through.

Calcium channel blockers are very effective at reducing high blood pressure and lowering the risk of osteoporosis, heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmias. Anticholinergics act primarily on muscarinic receptors by blocking acetylcholine transmission through muscarinic nerves within the central nervous system. Their effect seems to go beyond decreasing muscarinic signals and involves the inhibition of intracellular calcium release in skeletal muscle.

ACE Is Not Only Associated with Cardiovascular Problems

ACE I/II (angiotensin-converting enzyme), the main antihypertensive drug, does not really reduce blood pressure in people with existing cardiovascular problems. However, because of recent advances and improvements in technology, it is now possible for doctors to assess whether someone has high blood pressure (hypertension) at least yearly with an inexpensive, quick test. And it is also possible with simple tests that evaluate the heart's pressure and rate of beat.

Many physicians who perform routine blood pressure checks are unaware of causes or predisposes individuals to high blood pressure. By studying ACE inhibitors and ARB blockers, physicians can find out which medications work best for their patients. It is also important to look for elevated cholesterol levels, diabetes, weight gain or weight loss, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Physicians may order other blood work tests to determine other conditions that could be contributing to arterial calcification, as this may indicate other underlying processes such as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, or valvular heart disease. Because of the long half-life of these medications, especially for older patients, doctors often prescribe these medications together.

 

Conclusion:

Even though high blood pressure is a serious condition, there are fortunately many different ways to manage it. If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, work with your doctor to figure out the best treatment plan for you. This might include lifestyle changes like exercising more and eating a healthier diet, as well as taking medication to help lower your blood pressure. With the right treatment, you can keep your blood pressure under control and reduce your risk of developing serious health problems down the road.

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important to work with your doctor to find the best treatment plan for you. There are a variety of different medications available to treat hypertension, and your doctor will help you choose the one that is right for you based on your individual health needs. Additionally, there are several lifestyle changes that you can make to help prevent high blood pressure, such as eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise. By working with your doctor and making these lifestyle changes, you can successfully manage your hypertension and improve your overall health.