- Hypertension treatments

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Hypertension treatments

Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Lifestyle modifications can lower blood pressure and effectively reduce the risk. Modifications include reducing weight, moderating alcohol intake, exercising regularly, reducing sodium intake, and stopping smoking.

From a pharmacological standpoint, there are many therapeutic agents to control hypertension, including diuretics, beta-blockers, centrally acting anti adrenergics (CAA) agents, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, calcium-channel blockers, direct renin inhibitors, and direct vasodilators. Since cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance are the key factors that regulate blood pressure, it is not surprising that they are the targets of many antihypertensive drugs.

Review Date: 8/20/2023
Reviewed By: Jacob Berman, MD, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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