High blood pressure treatments

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition that occurs when your blood pressure is excessively high.

Doctors record your blood pressure using two numbers, which are measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). The higher number is for systolic pressure, which is the force your heart pumps blood around the body. The lower number is diastolic pressure, which is the resistance to blood flow in your blood vessels.

People with a healthy blood pressure will normally have a reading of between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. If you have a reading of 140/90mmHg or higher, this would constitute as high blood pressure. People over 80 years old are considered to have high blood pressure if it reads 150/90mmHg or higher.

What causes high blood pressure?

High blood pressure can be caused by different things in different people.

Some of the most common causes of high blood pressure include:

• Age (the risk of hypertension increases as you get older)
• Family history of high blood pressure
• Being of Caribbean or African origin
• Being overweight
• Eating a poor diet that is high in salt or fat
• Smoking
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Drinking too much caffeine
• High cholesterol levels - too much cholesterol causes the arteries to become harder and narrow, meaning the heart has to work harder

How is high blood pressure treated?

High blood pressure can often be managed or prevented by making healthy lifestyle changes.

However, to keep blood pressure at a stable level, many people are prescribed medication to aid their condition. This medication will work to lower your blood pressure; you will normally need to take it in the long term to keep the problem under control.

By lowering your blood pressure, you are also lowering the risk of being affected by serious health problems including a stroke, heart attack, and heart disease.

Lifestyle changes

Making healthy alterations to your lifestyle can go a long way towards lowering your blood pressure, as well as improving your general health.

Some of the simplest and most effective changes you can make to your lifestyle include:

• Losing weight if you are overweight
• Giving up smoking
• Drinking less caffeine (such as tea and coffee)
• Drinking less alcohol
• Eating fewer foods that are high in fat and salt
• Eating more fruit and vegetables
• Exercising regularly

Putting these measures into practice early can also help some people to prevent getting high blood pressure altogether.

When is high blood pressure treatment prescribed?

You will be prescribed high blood pressure treatment when lifestyle changes have not successfully lowered your blood pressure. 

Some individuals with high blood pressure may be at risk of heart attacks or strokes, however even if you are not at risk of those conditions you may still be prescribed high blood pressure treatments if you blood pressure is consistently above 140/90mmHg, which is considered to be high.

High blood pressure treatment is not a cure or a solution to high blood pressure, it simply forms part of your treatment plan and should be taken in conjunction with adopting lifestyle changes which can help to reduce your blood pressure and improve your overall cardiovascular health.

High Blood Pressure Tablets

There are several different types of medicine that can effectively lower blood pressure. Your doctor will be able to advise you on which would be most suitable for you to take.

Medicines for high blood pressure normally need to be taken in the long term to keep your blood pressure levels down. For effective treatment, you must remember to take the medication each day.

ACE inhibitors

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are often prescribed for high blood pressure. The likes of lisinopril work to lower blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels and helping them to widen. This makes it much easier for blood to flow through the body and relieves pressure on the heart.

Angiotensin-2 Receptor Blockers (ARBs)

Angiotensin-2 receptor blockers are not normally the first line treatment for high blood pressure, but they can work to ease the problem. They work by reducing a naturally occurring hormone in the body called Angiotensin II, which can cause the blood vessels to restrict and make it difficult for blood to be pumped around the body. Taking an ARB like losartan works to block the AT1 Receptors, which mediate Angiotensin II, causing the blood vessels to widen and reduce your blood pressure.

Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers such as lercanidipine hydrochloride and amlodipine are renowned high blood pressure medicines. They can also treat chronic stable angina and prevent heart disease, strokes and heart attacks. Calcium channel blockers work by inhibiting ion channels in the heart and blood vessels’ cells from absorbing calcium. This stops the blood vessels from contracting excessively and reduces peripheral vascular resistance, which prevents the blood from being pumped around the body.

Diuretics

Diuretics (water pills) can treat high blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body. Bendroflumethiazide is available to buy from our online pharmacy.

Beta blockers

Beta blockers like bisoprolol fumarate stop your heart’s beta receptors from receiving stress and adrenaline messages. These messages contain the stress hormone adrenaline, which makes the heart beat harder and raises blood pressure. Stopping these messages helps to relax and stabilise the heart rate, which lowers blood pressure.

Propranolol is another beta-blocker that can also lower high blood pressure. You can read more about using propranolol for high blood pressure in our medical guide.

High Blood Pressure treatment prices (UK)

Compare the prices of all the high blood pressure medicines you can buy from Medicine Direct below:

Can I buy high blood pressure medication over the counter?

High blood pressure medicines are not available to buy over the counter, they are a prescription only medicine. If you have been prescribed high blood pressure treatment, you will require ongoing monitoring by a doctor or pharmacist.

Can I change to a different high blood pressure medication?

Do not change to a different high blood pressure medicine without first consulting your doctor. If you are experiencing side effects, or your treatment is not successfully lowering your blood pressure, your doctor may suggest an alternative when it is safe to do so. 

Suddenly stopping your treatment and changing to another can cause your blood pressure to rise again, you will also be at risk of experiencing side effects caused by your new treatment, and withdrawal symptoms caused by your previous treatment.

How long will i need to take high blood pressure medicine for?

It is likely that you will need to take high blood pressure for the rest of your life as it is a long-term treatment plan. However, your doctor may choose to stop your treatment if lifestyle changes that form part of your treatment plan are able to control your blood pressure levels over a prolonged period.

How long do high blood pressure tablets take to lower blood pressure?

Blood pressure medicine is the quickest way to lower your blood pressure, most treatments get to work immediately and will successfully lower blood pressure within a few days.