Antihypertensive

Antihypertensive (pronunciation: an·ti·hy·per·ten·sive, /ˌæntiˌhaɪpərˈtɛnsɪv/) is a type of medication used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

Etymology

The term "antihypertensive" is derived from the prefix "anti-" meaning against, and "hypertensive" referring to high blood pressure.

Types of Antihypertensives

There are several types of antihypertensive medications, each working in a different way to lower blood pressure. These include:

• Diuretics: These increase the amount of salt and water that comes out through your urine to lower blood pressure.
• Beta blockers: These reduce the heart rate, the heart's workload and the heart's output of blood, which lowers blood pressure.
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: These prevent the formation of a hormone called angiotensin II, which normally causes blood vessels to narrow.
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs): These block the action of angiotensin II, allowing blood vessels to widen.
• Calcium channel blockers: These prevent calcium from entering the smooth muscle cells of the heart and arteries, causing them to relax.

Related Terms

• Hypertension
• Blood Pressure
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Stroke
• Heart Attack

See Also

• List of Antihypertensive Drugs
• Hypotensive

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Antihypertensive
• Wikipedia's article - Antihypertensive

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