Blood Pressure Lowering Drugs and Their Harmful Side Effects

I’m making this article to outline the four basic blood pressure lowering drugs doctors most commonly prescribe and their harmful side effects because…hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition which can’t be ignored. It is in fact a very life threatening silent killer where medication must be prescribed. Please keep in mind that prescription medication has many known harmful side effects hence natural remedies must be explored also.

If hypertension is not controlled, drugs must be prescribed. There are four major types of drugs prescribed to lower blood pressure: diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers. Remember, these drugs are only masking one symptom of an unknown disease, they are anti-hypertensives and have no healing properties. Even the least toxic drugs can cause deadly side effects.

DIURETICS – This is the least toxic type of anti-hypertension drug treatment. They are basically dehydrators; removing fluid from your body by way of the kidneys. One might ask; why on earth do I want to dehydrate myself! what happens with the lost fluids containing many vital minerals such as potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium, and getting rid of them will cause electrolyte imbalances (loss of minerals) in your body.

Other problems caused by diuretics include: irregular heart beat, gout, kidney damage or failure, uremia, hyperglycemia leading to diabetes, abnormal cholesterol, anemia, photosensitivity, indigestion, headaches, visual disturbances, and impotence.

Potent diuretic such as furosemide (Puresis, Aquarid, Lasix, Disal, Salix) or “water pills” causes thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency that can lead to heart failure. You should not take this diuretic without thiamine supplementation (250 mg twice daily).

ACE INHIBITORS – This type of drug sort of wages a chemical warfare attack in your body. They lower the blood pressure by blocking the release of angiotensin. Your body releases this molecule in order to raise the pressure.

Ace Inhibitors prevent the body from over producing the hormone present in lungs which makes the blood vessels contract and instead keeping them in a more relaxed state again the blood pressure is reduced. Their common side effect is dry cough. Examples are Zestril, Coversyl, Renitec, lispril etc.

BETA BLOCKERS – These are dangerous cardiac drug. They reduce the force of the heart’s contractions. Basically, the heartbeat slows in reaction to the drug, and that lowers hypertension. So keep in mind that you are dealing with a dangerous cardiac drug, not just “blood pressure medicine.”

Yep, you’ve got it; signs of serious heart disease would be one side effect. You may experience any or all of the following symptoms: congestive heart failure, which will lead to pulmonary edema, a good old-fashioned heart attack, or arrhythmias. And, of course, all of these irregularities can be fatal.

There’s also a strong possibility that you’ll experience a stroke, which could cause partial paralysis or death. And asthmatics should never take beta blockers, since they may trigger life-threatening airway spasms.

CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS – Calcium channel blockers are the worst of the blood lowering drugs available and guess what, they’re among the most widely prescribed drugs in the modern world. This drug block the movement of calcium across cell membranes. This suppresses muscular contraction, which dilates the arteries and reduces resistance to blood flow, hence a reduction in blood pressure.

Side effects in using these drugs include: increase in the number of headaches, a rash and increased blood flow to the skin resulting in feelings of flushing, an increased amount of fatigue and nausea; dizziness and some incidences of fluid retention i.e. puffy ankles. Examples of calcium channel blockers include: Isoptin, Calan, Herbessor, Norvasc, Sofvasc etc.

There you have it! The four basic blood pressure lowering drugs doctors most commonly prescribe and their harmful side effects. Hypertension is a very serious condition which can’t be ignored. It is in fact a very life threatening silent killer where medication must be prescribed. Please keep in mind that prescription medication has many known harmful side effects hence natural remedies must be explored also.

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Blood Pressure Lowering Drugs and Their Harmful Side Effects by Ness Dorig