The 3 Most Prescribed Blood Pressure Medications in the World

hello all you healthy blood pressure warriors my name is ingrid and i want to welcome you to the healthy blood pressure dot com channel blood pressure has become a common illness worldwide about one in four people are affected uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause several health risks it may also cause death or severe illnesses consequently doctors often prescribe medication to keep your blood pressure under control in this video i'm going to talk about the three most prescribed medications that reduce hypertension the first is lisinopril the first drug we're going to discuss is lisinopril lisinopril is

the most prescribed blood pressure medication in the world lisinopril is the generic name of one of the blood pressure lowering drugs it's available under brands called prinnaville and zestril you can take it as an oral tablet it's also available as an oral liquid if you have trouble swallowing pills the medication is available in generic forms as well which often costs less so how does it work lisinopril is an ace inhibitor ace means angiotensin converting enzyme higher levels of these enzymes produce a substance called angiotensin ii this substance narrows the blood vessels and that doesn't allow

blood to flow smoothly the heart then has to work harder and blood pressure rises by stopping this enzyme the cinepril lowers blood pressure so who is it prescribed for doctors usually prescribe lisinopril to treat high blood pressure they may choose this drug over others when you have other health conditions some of these conditions include kidney disease and heart failure this is because this drug slows down the progression of kidney disease and it also helps prevent strokes and heart attacks let's discuss some of the major side effects common side effects of lycinopril include cough headache and

dizziness serious side effects may be high potassium levels and kidney failure it might also cause severe allergies in rare cases lysinopril may cause liver failure it may also lower your blood pressure too much if left unmonitored the second prescription amlodipine mesolith another common drug to treat blood pressure is amlodipine amlodipine besselit is commonly called amlodipine it comes as an oral tablet only the most popular brand for this drug is norvasc it's also available in generic forms some strengths or forms may not be available in generic drugs so how does this one work amlodipine is a

calcium channel blocker calcium is an essential mineral for your body it makes muscle contractions possible calcium enters muscles through tiny pores on the cells it also enters blood vessels and the heart muscles in the same way but too much calcium in the blood vessels can cause them to narrow this restricts the blood flow and then your heart has to pump harder this raises blood pressure calcium channel blockers reduce the amount of calcium entering the blood vessels and the heart consequently the blood vessels relax and the heart is less restricted and your blood pressure comes down

so who is it prescribed for your doctor may give you amlodipines to reduce blood pressure this medication is especially beneficial if you also have a particular kind of chest pain this chest pain squeezing or tightness occurs when part of the heart muscle doesn't get as much blood oxygen as it normally does this symptom is called angina and often occurs when coronary arteries are blocked or have narrowed which is why amlodipine is so beneficial for coronary heart disease as well amlodipine may also be given for an irregular heartbeat let's talk about the major side effects common

side effects of amlodipine include swelling fatigue stomach pain nausea tremors and increased heart rate these are usually mild side effects there could also be some serious effects these include low blood pressure chest pain shortness of breath dizziness and fainting speak with your doctor immediately if you have any serious side effects they could adjust your medication dosage or change it completely the third medication is hydrochlorothiazide the third and final medication we're going to talk about is hydrochlorothiazide hydrochlorothiazide is available in tablet or capsule form it's commonly sold as a generic drug which may make it cost

less than branded medications the brand name for hydrochlorothiazide is microcide microcyte is available in capsule form so how does this one work hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic a diuretic is also called a water pill it works by making the kidneys pass more salt into the urine this helps reduce the water in the blood vessels thus the blood vessels can relax and the blood flows more smoothly the entire process helps in reducing blood pressure who is it prescribed for hydrochlorothiazide is often the first line of treatment for high blood pressure doctors may also prescribe it for heart

failure this is especially true if heart failure causes swelling some kinds of liver damage such as cirrhosis can also cause swelling a diuretic can help reduce such kinds of swelling too if you're taking steroids or estrogens talk to your doctor these drugs may also cause swelling and taking hydrochlorothiazide may reduce this swelling major side effects common side effects may include low blood pressure dizziness headache fatigue tingling and diarrhea these side effects typically reduce in a few weeks but some other side effects could be severe these include skin rashes fever kidney failure and blurred vision it

may also cause inflammation in your pancreas if you experience shortness of breath chest pain or severe stomach issues call your doctor immediately they may need to switch your medication in summary your doctor prescribes drugs for lowering your blood pressure as needed these drugs prevent blood pressure from rising to dangerous levels and thus they save your life knowing potential side effects of your prescribed blood pressure lowering drugs helps you help your doctor and yourself your doctors need you to share the symptoms you are having from the medications they are prescribing without your knowledge awareness and reporting

any issues from the medications for your high blood pressure they don't know there's a problem so they can't make the necessary changes together you and your doctor will create the best treatment plan for improved health while minimizing the side effects that's why we focus on the three most common hypertension drugs knowing about your medication's composition and side effects can help you understand your treatment plan better hi there if you suffer from high blood pressure like i do and you want to receive my educational videos about how to lower your blood pressure i'd like to ask

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