Hypertension guide

There are many types of high blood pressure medications being produced by pharmaceutical companies. Two very popular types are diuretics and beta blockers.

For mild cases of hypertension, diuretics can be quite effective. The problem, however, is that they can deplete potassium from the body. And, with more serious cases of hypertension, they often have to be combined with another type of medication to be most effective. As a result, the first choice of many doctors are beta blockers.

Beta blockers fundamentally work by reducing the heart rate. The effect of this is to decrease the amount of blood that it is pumping through the arteries. And this lowers the blood pressure. This type of medication is especially popular for people who have already had a heart attack or stroke. It lowers the risk of another one.

Finding the right combinations of medicines is basically a trial by error affair. As a result, beta blocker medications are usually used in combination with diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or other types of medicines.

Beta blockers, as do most medications, will usually cause some side effects. One of the most common is cold hands and feet, especially in the winter time. Since blood is flowing through your arteries slower, your body will not warm up as fast. A simple solution is to either raise the temperature in your home or add clothing layers. If the cold really gets too extreme, however, let your doctor know and he will probably be able to adjust your medications.

Other common symptoms are swelling in various parts of your body such as your face, arms, legs, etc. Some patients, who are especially sensitive to beta blockers, will experience a severe, and potentially dangerous, slow down in their heart rate. Unfortunately, many people with high blood pressure have diabetes as well. If you have diabetes, beta blockers can raise your blood sugar levels. So you may have to monitor your glucose levels as well. The key thing is to not be shy about calling your doctor if your body starts to experience any radical changes.

Another important fact to note is that beta blocker based medications can often interact with foods. Especially acidic ones such as grapefruit juice. Your doctor can let you know which foods you should avoid.

To ensure that your heart rate and blood pressure stays within normal parameters, your doctor may suggest that you purchase a home blood pressure monitor and take period readings. Don't be intimidated by these machines as many of the modern ones practically run themselves once you get the cuff around your arm.

Find more about high blood pressure medications and other high blood pressure control techniques such as natural remedies for high blood pressure at our website.

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