Do Hypertension Medications Really Help?

I’ve mentioned this before, but it occurred again recently. While barely paying attention to the television, I caught a couple of key words. Stroke. Heart Attack. What now? I did a quick rewind and learned that this was another commercial for hypertension drugs.

Hundreds of people have shared this very situation with me as they are either candidates for high blood pressure medicine or currently take it. They turn to my High Blood Pressure Program to avoid this.

I am very familiar with the host of problems various drugs can bring. However, I never tire of researching it just the same. I am amazed all over again when reviewing the side effects of the various drugs people have mentioned.

140 over 90 is typically considered high blood pressure.

Heart attack and stroke can occur due to high blood pressure. Other vital organs can also be jeopardized such as teh eyes, kidneys and brain.

Other problems associated with hypertension are erectile dysfunction and insomnia. The symptoms of high blood pressure though can be too subtle to notice, if the exist as all.

Many people do experience some symptoms. Blurry vision, headaches and nausea are common. Measuring blood pressure is the only way to truly deduce that is is exists though.

A single reading does not necessarily mean chronic high blood pressure though. You need to check it regularly and take note if you happen to be taking other medications. There are over the counter drugs that can contribute to elevated blood pressure.

It is important to be informed of the potential side effects of medication before you start taking it. Four types of medication I am sharing today are ACE Inhibitors, Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers and Diuretics.

The ACE Innhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme) relax blood vessels by blocking angiotensin II production. This is a hormone responsible for narrowed blood vessels. Some commonly prescribed are: benazepril, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, quinapril and ramipril.

Accompanying the drugs are possible side effects such as chronic coughing, headaches, chest pain and even kidney disease.

Now let’s look at Beta Blockers. These drugs reduce nerve signals to the heart and blood vessels which causes the heart to beat slower reducing blood pressure. Commonly prescribed beta blockers include: acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), penbutolol (Levatol), propranolol (Inderal) and timolol (Blocadren).

Some possible effects of these drugs are dizziness, impotence, depression, fatigue and even hallucenations.

Calcium Channel Blockers block calcium from entering heart and blood vessel muscle cells which prevents the blood vessels from constricting and lowers blood pressure. Some of the beta blockers are amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR) felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan).

Side effects include: nausea, heartburn, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, dizziness, sexual dysfunction, and in some cases, stroke and heart attack. Hey! I thought they were supposed to help prevent stroke and heart attacks!

And finally diuretics. The body flushes fluid and sodium which helps to lower blood pressure. Some of the common ones are hydrochlorothiazide, furoseminde and chlorthalidone.

Electrolyte imbalances, impotence, breast enlargement in men (gynecomastia), gout, menstrual irregularities, increased blood sugar, blurred vision, and fever.

If reducing or eliminating high blood pressure medication is your goal, I recommend taking this slowly. Do not just discontinue your medication.

Your doctor will likely be hesitant, but the proof of the High Blood Pressure Program is in the numbers.

Introduct the program but continue to take your medication. Continue to monitor your blood pressure. As it begins to lower, see your doctor and discuss lowering your medicine. Eventually you can do this until the drugs are no longer needed.

Are you considering going onhypertension remedies or are you already on medications? Before you do anything, check out natural exercises to control blood pressure naturally without side effects.