How different medicines work
Different ways to lower blood pressure in your body
There are three main systems in your body that regulate your blood pressure. Antihypertensive medicines help treat high blood pressure by targeting these systems. Not all blood pressure treatments are right for everyone, so talk to your doctor about what’s best for you. Your doctor may prescribe a combination of medicines that target one or more of these systems. To make it convenient, there are even prescription options that combine two or three different medicines in a single pill.
There’s a key system in your body
that regulates blood pressure. This system is called the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, or RAAS. When this system is overactive, blood vessels can become narrow and blood pressure is increased. For 60% to 70% of people with hypertension, this system does not work properly.
There are many medicines that specifically target this system, which help reduce or block the production of chemicals that can narrow blood vessels.
Sodium is a key contributor
to high blood pressure. That’s because it leads to excess fluid building up in your blood vessels, and this can put a strain on your heart. Some medicines can help control this system and lower blood pressure by removing excess water and sodium from the body through urination.
Your brain also plays an important
part in controlling your blood pressure by regulating your heart. Some medicines can help lower blood pressure by reducing the force and rate of the heartbeat, which reduces pressure in the blood vessels.
