Blood Pressure Medicines: Different Types for Different Needs
High blood pressure needs to be controlled to keep your heart healthy. Here are the main types of blood pressure medicines:
đź”´ACE Inhibitors and ARBs: The Relaxers
These medicines (like lisinopril and losartan) help your blood vessels relax and widen, making it easier for blood to flow through.
Why They’re Great:
- Help protect your kidneys (especially important for people with diabetes!)
- Often prescribed as first-choice medicines
- Can help heart failure patients feel better
Things to Know:
- ACE inhibitors sometimes cause a dry cough
- ARBs work similarly but usually don’t cause the cough
đź”´Calcium Channel Blockers: The Smooth Operators
These medicines (like amlodipine) prevent calcium from entering cells in your heart and blood vessels, which helps them relax.
Benefits:
- Work especially well for older adults and African Americans
- Some types can help with certain heart rhythm problems too
- Often cause fewer side effects in some people
đź”´Diuretics: The Fluid Reducers
Often called “water pills,” diuretics help your body get rid of extra sodium and water, reducing the amount of fluid in your blood vessels.
Why They’re Great:
- Often inexpensive
- Work well for many people
- Can be combined with other blood pressure medicines
Did You Know? Many people need to try different blood pressure medicines before finding the perfect match—it’s like finding the right pair of shoes that fits just right!