Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, affects approximately 1/3 of all Americans. Unknowingly, many people with the disease are essentially ticking time bombs waiting to explode. High Blood Pressure is also referred to as the silent killer. Although most diseases and illnesses manifesting symptoms, people often find the problem during a routine check in the doctor's office, or after disaster strikes. Hypertension frequently causes serious, potentially life-threatening health problems; so, various medicines have been developed to keep the beastly disease under control.

High blood pressure can seriously damage a person's arteries. Due to periods of excessive force, over time the artery walls are weakened, possibly resulting in aneurysms. Basically, fragile balloon-like areas may develop. Thus, an individual may die, if the artery pops. For a fortunate few, aneurysms are discovered before time runs out. However, the odds are not in the patient's favor.

Also, odds are not in the patient's favor when hypertension results in brain damage. Most Americans know someone who has suffered a stroke. Sometimes, forewarning signs, like distorted vision, slurred speech, or dizziness give an individual time to reach the emergency room for immediate treatment; usually, a stroke causes devastating health problems or death. For the people fortunate enough to survive, ambulation, speech, and even the ability to eat are some of the long-lasting effects. The patient then faces months, or years, of extensive therapy attempting to regain former skills most people take for granted. Plus, he/she has an increased probability of subsequent strokes.

In addition to strokes, probably the most common health risk of hypertension is a heart attack. As excessive pressure weakens the heart muscle, a person is at risk for coronary artery disease, an enlarged heart, and eventual heart failure. Sadly, high blood pressure is often diagnosed after the diseased heart has surrendered to the illness. Therefore, the best preventative measures against hypertension are periodic pressure checks, and high blood pressure medicine to manage the condition before it becomes a huge problem.

Although a myriad of medicines are available, doctors may decide what treatment is best based upon the patient's age, ethnicity, other medications, and allergies. All of the issues may potentially determine how an individual will react to high blood pressure medicine. Nevertheless, beta-blockers have been commonly used, in the past, to control hypertension: "These slow down the heart, reducing the amount of work that it has to do, and lowers an important hormone. This opens the blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to work". Today, due to the adverse side effects of sleepiness and cold hands, the medication is infrequently prescribed to lower blood pressure.

In tandem with other blood pressure medicines, diuretics (water tablets) are used to release excess salt and water in the body. For some, water tablets will initially lower an individual's pressure. However, the side effect can be a little disconcerting. Until a patient's body is regulated, frequent trips to the restroom are a must. Therefore, patients are instructed to take the medication at a convenient time. For example, taking the pills before bed will probably result in a very restless night. Eventually, the body should adjust, reducing the need to release excess water.

In truth, the information mentioned above represents only a few of the consequences, and medicinal treatments, of high blood pressure. However, the short list is a great argument for further exploration of the disease and subsequent use of high blood pressure medicines. Heart attacks, strokes, and aneurisms are three often-fatal results of neglecting to treat hypertension. Also, beta-blockers and diuretics are only two of the many options for medicinal solutions. So, in order to avoid becoming a medical statistic, periodically have a health care professional check for possible hypertension, especially if a history of high blood pressure runs in the family. You may want or need high blood pressure medicines.