Treatment

Treatment can be divided into two approaches. The first is lifestyle changes, (such as weight loss, stopping smoking, increasing exercising, reducing salt, alcohol, and fat consumption, control of cholesterol levels, and reduction of psychological stressors.)

The second is by drug therapy, which may well be introduced quite early, as hypertension is best treated, to avoid likely complications. These medications are -:

• Diuretics (or “water pills”) Examples are bendroflmethiazide and furosemide.
• Betablockers. These make the heart pump at a slower rate, and reduce the pressure on the blood vessels. An example is atenolol.
• ACE Inhibitors, which act by blocking the production of a hormone angiotensin II from angiotensin I. (Angiotensin II causes blood vessels to contract). Examples are captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, and ramipril.
• Calcium Channel Blockers, which act by dilating the peripheral blood vessels, and therefore reducing the blood pressure; examples being amlodipine and nifedipine.
• Angiotensin II receptor antagonists such as, Candesartan,Irbesartan, Losartan and Valsartan have many properties similar to those of ACE Inhibitors, but do not cause the dry, persistent cough, which complicates ACE Inhibitor therapy. Therefore, they are a useful alternative to ACE Inhibitor therapy.
• Other agents, such as alpha blockers (i.e. doxazosin), hydralazine and other agents may be less commonly used.