Final answer:
Blood pressure drugs are used to treat cardiovascular conditions, including high blood pressure and heart failure. There are different classes of drugs that work in various ways to lower blood pressure and improve symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medications are used to treat or improve symptoms of cardiovascular conditions including high blood pressure and heart failure. There are different classes of blood pressure drugs that are commonly prescribed:
Thiazide diuretics: These drugs help remove excess salt and water from the body, reducing the amount of fluid in the blood vessels and lowering blood pressure.
Calcium channel blockers: These drugs relax and widen blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood and reducing blood pressure.
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: ACE inhibitors help relax blood vessels and reduce the production of a hormone called angiotensin II, which narrows blood vessels. This helps lower blood pressure and reduce the workload on the heart.
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs): ARBs block the action of angiotensin II, causing blood vessels to relax and blood pressure to decrease.