High blood pressure is a dangerous condition that may have long-term effects. Ideal blood pressure is 120/80. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to many life-threatening conditions such as heart failures, artery damage and aneurysms. High blood pressure may be treated by changing one's diet and lifestyle and, if necessary, by taking medications.
Pre-hypertension
Pre-hypertension, or mildly high blood pressure, occurs when blood pressure is between 120/80 and 139/89. Often times pre-hypertension can be controlled with lifestyle changes. However, sometimes medications may be used to control blood pressure.
Angiotensis-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
These medications include captopril (Capoten), ramipril (Altace) and lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril). They work by stopping the body from producing a certain hormone that narrows blood vessels.
Angiotensis II receptor blockers
These medications include losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan) and olmesartan (Benicar). They also work by preventing the body from making the angiotensin hormone that causes blood vessels to narrow.
Beta Blockers
Beta Blockers include penbutolol (Levatol), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) and nadolol (Corgard). These medications reduce nerve signals sent to the blood vessels and heart. The reduction in nerve signals helps to lower blood pressure.
Calcium Channel Blockers
These medications include nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), amlodipine (Norvasc) and diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR). These medications stop calcium from entering the heart or muscle cells of the blood vessel. This caused the cells to relax so that blood pressure will be lower.
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