Final answer:
Antihypertensive medications, which include drug classes such as thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, and ACE inhibitors, are used to manage high blood pressure. They work by lowering blood volume, relaxing blood vessels, or blocking chemicals that cause vasoconstriction. Most patients need multiple medications, and treatment may involve a stepped care approach.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antihypertensive Medication
For individuals diagnosed with hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, a range of medications is utilized to manage the condition. Antihypertensive medications include a variety of drug classes, 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 relaxing blood vessels, reducing blood volume, or blocking the actions of chemicals that tighten blood vessels, like angiotensin II.
ACE inhibitors, for instance, hinder the angiotensin-converting enzyme from transforming angiotensin I to angiotensin II, thus reducing the effects of the latter in elevating blood pressure. In more urgent situations, such as a hypertensive crisis, medication may be administered intravenously to rapidly reduce blood pressure. Furthermore, preventive treatment, like aspirin and another antiplatelet drug (dual antiplatelet therapy or DAPT), may be recommended for patients with plaque buildup to avert major arterial blockages.
Most hypertension patients require a combination of medications to achieve target blood pressure levels effectively. It's crucial to follow a stepped care approach to hypertension management, which involves gradually increasing medication dosages or adding new drugs to the regimen if initial targets are not reached.