This is a beginner's introduction to High Blood Pressure and its causes and current treatments.

1. What is High Blood
Pressure?
By Tom Seest

2. WHAT IS HIGH
BLOOD PRESSURE?
If you follow me on social media, you are
likely to experience high blood pressure
sometime during your lifetime. I don’t believe
following me on social media would be the
primary or contributing cause of your high
blood pressure. Most adults will likely be
diagnosed with high blood pressure at some
point during their lifetime. You should
understand the condition to identify and
resolve it if you encounter it.

3. UNDER PRESSURE
Most people have probably heard the song made famous
by the band Queen titled “Under Pressure,” which you can
listen to here: https://youtu.be/a01QQZyl-_I
If you read the song’s lyrics, you’ll quickly determine that
it’s not a good thing to be “under pressure.”
Pressure is the force exerted on an object by another
object. In this case, high blood pressure would be
considered excessive pressure of blood as it moves
through the arteries or blood vessels. You can picture a
balloon that is ready to burst or me wearing a super-tight
pair of jeans. No one wants to be around when the item
under pressure explodes.

4. WHY IS
HIGH
BLOOD
PRESSURE
BAD?
According to the Center for Disease Control1,
nearly half a million people die in the United
States each year, with high blood pressure being
named as the primary or contributing cause of
death. If you are diagnosed with high blood
pressure (hypertension), you have a higher risk
of heart disease, heart failure, heart attack, Atrial
Fibrillation, and a greater risk for stroke,
dementia, and kidney disease. The high blood
pressure itself isn’t necessarily the problem but
can serve as an indicator of other underlying
issues.
• 1https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm

5. WHAT CAUSES HIGH
BLOOD PRESSURE?
There are many different known causes of high blood pressure, and they include:
• Alcohol Consumption
• Smoking
• Sleep Apnea
• Obesity
• Aging
• Diabetes
• Stress or Anxiety
• Physical Inactivity
• Autoimmune conditions
Some doctors also believe that genetics can be a cause of high blood pressure.
While some treatments and therapies can help you lower your blood pressure, you must try to determine the primary and secondary
causes for the condition and reverse and eliminate them as quickly as possible.

6. INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO
LOWER BLOOD
PRESSURE
While it may seem obvious, you need to
experiment with lifestyle changes and determine
if they positively impact lowering your blood
pressure. If you suspect that consuming alcohol,
smoking, stress, anxiety, or diabetes is causing
your high blood pressure, do your best to
eliminate those problems in your life. A Diabetes
diagnosis can be reversed, in some cases, by
making changes in what you eat. If you’re not
getting enough physical activity, add simple things
like walking and stretching to your daily routine.
Other conditions may involve the services of
coaches, doctors, and nutritionists as each case is
different.

7. TYPES OF BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATIONS
Doctors prescribe many different types of blood pressure medications that include:
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
• Alpha-Blockers
• Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
• Beta-Blockers
• Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs)
• Central Agonists
• Combination medications
• Direct Renin Inhibitors
• Diuretics
• Peripheral Adrenergic Blockers
• Vasodilators
Each medication may have side effects and may or may not provide benefit. Your doctor will prescribe treatment based on how elevated your blood pressure is, what may
be causing it, how your body responds to the treatment, and any of your other health problems. Your pharmacist will likely work with you for a plan to try and monitor each
attempt at treating your high blood pressure.

8. ANGIOTENSIN-
CONVERTING
ENZYME (ACE)
INHIBITORS
An ACE Inhibitor can prevent your arteries and veins from tightening up by preventing
your body from producing a hormone that is made to cause this effect. Your doctor may
prescribe a medication, with a name ending in “pril”, to act as an ACE Inhibitor.
Medications in this class include:
• Benazepril, also called Lotensin
• Captopril, also called Capoten
• Enalapril, also called Vasotec
• Fosinopril, also called Monopril
• Lisinopril, also called Prinivil, Zestril
• Moexipril, also called Univasc
• Perindopril, also called Aceon
• Quinapril, also called Accupril
• Ramipril, also called Altace
• Trandolapril, also called Mavik
Supplements made with Black Cumin seeds may also act as ACE inhibitors.

9. ALPHA-
BLOCKERS
Alpha-blockers can stop the signals that pass
through the nerves that cause the arteries to
restrict, and this can cause the arteries to relax,
lowering the amount of pressure on the walls of
the arteries.
Commonly prescribed Alpha-Blockers include:
• Doxazosin, often called Cardura
• Prazosin, often called Minipress
• Terazosin, often called Hytrin

10. ANGIOTENSIN
II Receptor
Blockers (ARBs)
An ARB medication acts against the same
hormone that the ACE inhibitor restricts. In the
case of an ARB, it prevents the hormone from
being able to attach to the muscles which cause
the blood vessels to restrict.
The names of these drugs commonly end with
“tan” and include:
• Candesartan, often called Atacand
• Eprosartan, often called Teveten
• Irbesartan, often called Avapro
• Losartan, often called Cozaar
• Telmisartan, often called Micardis
• Valsartan, often called Diovan

11. BETA-
BLOCKERS
Beta blockers are used to slow down your heart rate which causes the heart not to pressurize the blood so much
which lowers the pressure on the walls of the arteries.
The names of beta-blockers commonly end in “olol” and include:
• Acebutolol, often called Sectral
• Atenolol, often called Tenormin
• Betaxolol, often called Kerlone
• Bisoprolol, often called Zebeta
• Carteolol, often called Cartrol
• Metoprolol, often called Lopressor, Toprol XL
• Nadolol, often called Corgard
• Nebivolol, often called Bystolic
• Penbutolol, often called Levatol
• Pindolol, often called Visken
• Propranolol, often called Inderal
• Sotalol, often called Betapace
• Timolol, often called Blocadren
Foods or supplements that contain Magnesium, Potassium, L-Arginine, Tryptophan, Antioxidants, St. John Wort,
Fish Oil or Fiber may have an effect similar to a beta-blocker. Avoiding caffeine in coffee, soda, or energy drinks
may also lower the heart rate.

12. CALCIUM
CHANNEL
BLOCKERS
(CCBs)
Also called calcium antagonists, these medications block calcium from entering certain cells in the blood
vessels and heart which reduces the conduction of electrical signals. This has the effect of either slowing
down the heart rate or relaxing the arteries and veins.
Medications in this class often include:
• Amlodipine, often called Norvasc
• Bepridil, often called Vasocor
• Diltiazem, often called Cardizem, Dilacor or Tiazac
• Felodipine, often called Plendil
• Isradipine, often called DynaCirc
• Nicardipine, often called Cardene
• Nifedipine, often called Adalat or Procardia
• Nisoldipine, often called Sular
• Verapamil, often called Calan, Covera, Isoptin or Verelan
Some studies suggest that consuming more calcium in food or in supplements may actually act as a
Calcium Channel Blocker. Supplements made with Black Cumin seeds may also act as a Calcium Channel
Blocker.

13. CENTRAL
AGONISTS
Medications of this type may be referred to as
central-acting agents, central adrenergic
inhibitors, or central alpha agonists. They keep
the brain from signaling an increase of the rate
at which the heart pumps which lowers the
pressure and keeps the blood vessels from
narrowing.
Medications in this class include:
• Clonidine, often called Catapres
• Guanabenz, often called Wytensin
• Guanfacine, often called Tenex
• Methyldopa, often called Aldomet

14. COMBINATION
MEDICATIONS
Pharmaceutical companies have created drugs
that combine medications from more than one
of these types of antihypertensives and have
created combination medications like these:
• Bisoprolol is combined with hydrochlorothiazide
and is known as Ziac, which is a beta-blocker and
diuretic.
• Carvedilol is known as Coreg, which is an alpha-
blocker and beta-blocker.
• Labetalol is known as Normodyne or Trandate,
which is an alpha-blocker and beta-blocker.
• Olmesartan is combined with hydrochlorothiazide
and is known as Benicar, which is an ARB and
diuretic.

15. DIRECT
RENIN
INHIBITORS
Direct Renin Inhibitors affect the enzyme renin
targeted by ACE inhibitors and ARBs and stop
it from causing reactions that make the
hormone.
The medication in this class most often
prescribed is Aliskiren, which is often called
Tekturna.

16. DIURETICS
Your doctor and people in general may refer to these as “water pills,” because they can help your body
get rid of salt and water. Removing more water from your body helps reduce the pressure on the walls
of the arteries.
Common diuretics that doctors prescribe include:
• ●Amiloride, also called Midamor
• ●Bumetanide, also called Bumex
• ●Chlorthalidone, also called Hygroton
• ●Chlorothiazide, also called Diuril
• ●Furosemide, also called Lasix
• ●Hydrochlorothiazide ( HCTZ), also called Esidrix, Hydrodiuril, or Microzide
• ●Indapamide, also called Lozol
• ●Metolazone, also called Mykrox, Zaroxolyn
• ●Spironolactone, also called Aldactone
• ●Triamterene, also called Dyrenium
More than one diuretic can be included in one medication, and these are:
• ●Amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide are often combined and prescribed as Moduretic
• ●Spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide are often combined and prescribed as Aldactazide
• ●Triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide are often combined and prescribed as Dyazide or
Maxzide
Foods like eggplant, asparagus, watermelon and onion can also act as diuretics. Beverages that contain
alcohol or caffeine can have a diuretic effect as well. People have also had good results with some herbs
like hawthorn, parsley, and corn silk.

17. PERIPHERAL
ADRENERGIC
BLOCKERS
Although doctors tend to not prescribe this class
of drugs, these drugs will prevent nerve signals
from reaching the blood vessels that cause the
vessels to tighten up.
Medications in this class include:
• ●Guanadrel, also called Hylorel
• ●Guanethidine, also called Ismelin
• ●Reserpine, also called Serpasil

18. VASODILATORS
Vasodilators cause the muscles in the walls of
the arteries and veins to relax, which results in
wider blood vessels. This lowers the pressure on
the walls, lowering the blood pressure.
Two medications prescribed in this class are:
• ●Hydralazine, also called Apresoline
• ●Minoxidil, also called Loniten
Foods and supplements that include garlic,
artichoke, hawthorn, flaxseed, turmeric,
cinnamon, berberine, ginger and ginkgo can act
as vasodilators. Eating avocado or drinking
green tea can also have a vasodilating effect. Any
supplement containing Nitric Oxide (NO) may
also act as a vasodilator.

19. JUST RELAX
Knowing that you have elevated blood pressure can cause you
to have stress and anxiety, and that can give you higher blood
pressure. It is important to at least understand what may be
causing your high blood pressure and potentially eliminate or
reduce the primary and secondary causes.
Whether you are trying to implement lifestyle and dietary
changes to reduce your blood pressure, or taking medications,
you should now have a better understanding of how these
various alternatives work with your nervous system and your
circulatory system to reduce the pressure of the blood passing
through your veins and arteries. And, this additional
knowledge may help you to relax.

20. TO BE CONTINUED
As I get more time, I’ll produce an article
that provides links to the science behind
each of these classes of drugs, known side
effects, and any science regarding the herbs
and supplements that may act in the same
way.