Final answer:
First-line treatments for hypertension include thiazide-diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs. β-blockers like metoprolol and propranolol are also used but may not always be the first-line therapy. These drugs help manage high blood pressure by affecting different aspects of cardiovascular function.
Step-by-step explanation:
The class of drugs that is used to first treat hypertension includes several options such as thiazide-diuretics, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). These medications work in different ways to lower blood pressure by either increasing urine output to reduce blood volume, dilating blood vessels, reducing heart rate, or blocking the action of natural chemicals that tighten blood vessels. Medications like metoprolol and propranolol, which are β-blockers, are also commonly used to manage hypertension by blocking certain receptors that lead to reduced heart rate and vasodilation, although they are not always the first choice.