High Blood Pressure Tablets

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a blood pressure reading of 140/90mmHg or over. Normal blood pressure ranges between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg, and is different for everyone.

Blood pressure is measured with 2 numbers that represent your systolic blood pressure and your diastolic blood pressure. Systolic is the higher number and measures the force your heart is pumping to get blood around your body. Diastolic, which is the lower number, measures the resistance of blood flow in your blood vessels. They are measured in mmHg, which is millimeters of mercury.

Blood pressure is the result of the amount of blood pumped through your body by the heart and your arteries' resistance to the blood flow.

High blood pressure occurs when your blood vessels have more strain put on them from the blood flowing through them. This can be because the arteries are less flexible, and it means that your heart has to work harder to pump the blood around your body.

High blood pressure takes many years to develop and usually causes no symptoms at all. Most people will discover they have it when they go for a medical check-up. In some cases, it isn’t picked up until it causes problems like erectile dysfunction, or even a heart attack or stroke.

As we get older, our arteries become stiffer and less flexible, so an increase in blood pressure is normal over the years. But, abnormally high blood pressure is a real problem that can lead to heart attack and stroke. Over time, the excessive pressure on the walls of your arteries will cause damage to the arteries.

You may be more likely to get high blood pressure if you:

• do not exercise regularly
• are overweight
• eat foods containing a lot of salt and do not eat enough vegetables and fruit
• smoke
• are over 65 years old
• live in a deprived area
• have problems sleeping or do not get enough sleep
• drink a lot of alcohol or caffeine
• have a family history of hypertension
• are of black Caribbean or black African descent

Health conditions linked to high blood pressure

In some cases, high blood pressure is linked to another health condition.

These can include:

• diabetes
• kidney disease
• lupus, which is an immune system condition
• obstructive sleep apnoea
• hormone problems
• scleroderma, which is a skin condition
• glomerulonephritis, which is damage to the small filters inside your kidneys

Medications linked to high blood pressure

Certain medications can cause high blood pressure, such as:

• steroids
• the contraceptive pill
• some herbal remedies
• non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, like ibuprofen
• recreational drugs, like cocaine
• some antidepressants

If your medication is causing high blood pressure, this should go away once you stop taking it.

High blood pressure often has no symptoms, so the only way to find out is by getting your blood pressure checked.

If you do get symptoms, these include:

• nosebleeds
• blurred vision
• chest pain
• shortness of breath
• headaches
• dizziness

In rare cases blood pressure can reach dangerously high levels, causing more serious symptoms like:

• confusion
• severe headaches
• difficulty breathing
• chest pains
• fits

These signs and symptoms of hypertension usually occur when patients are experiencing a “crisis” or an “emergency” because their high blood pressure has reached dangerously high levels.

These signs are also common in people who suffer from a sudden increase in high blood pressure (accelerated hypertension). If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately.

If your blood pressure is between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg, you may be at risk of getting high blood pressure. Everyone’s normal blood pressure is different. It is important to know what normal is for you.

UK hypertension statistics

Around the world, hypertension leads to more than 8 million early deaths each year. In the UK, there are about 62,000 people who die prematurely each year from strokes and heart attacks as a result of high blood pressure.

About 7 in 10 people in the UK have increased blood pressure. Nearly half of the population under 35 is also affected.

These hypertension statistics also show that about 30% of high blood pressure patients are not actually aware that they have the condition. This is because most of the time, high blood pressure does not cause any symptoms.

High blood pressure can be treated with several different medications. These can all help to lower your blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels. This makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body.

If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, you need to keep taking your medication. It is safe to take high blood pressure medication for the rest of your life, if you need it.

These are the different medications to treat high blood pressure. You can browse their side effects, further down this page.

ACE inhibitors

ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors stop your body from making a hormone called angiotensin II. This hormone causes your blood vessels to narrow, increasing your blood pressure. ACE inhibitors prevent this, causing your blood vessels to relax and your blood pressure to lower. You can request ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril, ramipril, and enalapril through ZAVA. Simply complete our short online medical questionnaire. One of our doctors will review this to ensure that treatment is suitable.

Angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARB)

Angiotensin-II receptor blockers, or ARBs, work similarly to ACE inhibitors and may be prescribed if ACE inhibitors cause side effects. Whilst ACE inhibitors stop the production of angiotensin II, ARBs stop angiotensin II from connecting to your receptors. This means it cannot make your blood vessels narrow. This causes your blood vessels to relax and lowers your blood pressure. You can get the ARBs, irbesartan and losartan, through ZAVA.

Calcium channels blockers

Calcium causes your arteries to contract, which makes it harder for your heart to pump blood around your body. Calcium channel blockers can lower your blood pressure as they stop calcium from entering your arteries. You can get calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine, felodipine, and lercanidipine through ZAVA

Beta blockers

Beta blockers can be prescribed for high blood pressure and other conditions, such as angina. They block hormones like adrenaline to slow down your heart rate. This causes your heart to beat slower and with less force, which lowers your blood pressure. You can get beta blockers such as bisoprolol and atenolol through ZAVA.

Diuretics or ‘water' tablets

Diuretics, which are often known as ‘water’ tablets, help you to get rid of extra fluid in your body through your kidneys. When you have less fluid in your blood, it is easier for blood to travel around your body, which lowers your blood pressure. You can get the diuretic bendroflumethiazide through ZAVA.

Alpha blockers

Alpha blockers can lower blood pressure by preventing the hormone norepinephrine from narrowing the muscles around your blood vessels. This causes your blood vessels to relax and widen, making it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. You can get the alpha blocker Doxazosin through ZAVA.

As high blood pressure often has no symptoms, the only way to be diagnosed is by getting your blood pressure checked. You can do this at home or by visiting your GP. You can also check your blood pressure at some pharmacies. Having high blood pressure once does not mean you have hypertension.

If you have a high blood pressure reading, your doctor will often ask you to take a 24 hour blood pressure monitor home, which can check your blood pressure throughout the day. If your blood pressure is consistently high, your doctor may then diagnose you with hypertension.

No, you can only take high blood pressure medication if it has been prescribed to you. It can be dangerous to take high blood pressure tablets if you do not have high blood pressure, as it could cause your blood pressure to drop too low.

Each type of high blood pressure medication comes with its own side effects. Not everyone that takes high blood pressure treatment will get side effects, but if you do, they should go away after a few weeks. If they do not, or they bother you a lot, speak to your doctor.

These are the common side effects for the various high blood pressure medications available.

ACE inhibitors

Side effects include:

• dizziness
• rash
• headaches

ARBs

Side effects include:

• headaches
• dizziness
• cold or flu-like symptoms

Calcium channel blockers

Side effects include:

• headaches
• constipation
• swelling in the ankles

Beta blockers

Side effects include:

• dizziness
• tiredness
• headaches
• cold feet and hands

Diuretics

Side effects include:

• increased need to pee
• dizziness when standing
• increased thirst
• rash

Alpha blockers

Side effects include:

• headaches
• feeling weak, dizzy, or sleepy
• urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• stomach pain
• nausea or vomiting (feeling or being sick)

For a full list of side effects, read the patient information leaflet included with your medication.

If you have any health conditions or take any other medications, speak to your doctor before taking high blood pressure medication.

This incluces:

• an allergy to any ingredients in the medication prescribed
• low blood pressure
• kidney or liver problems
• diabetes
• gout
• porphyria, a rare blood disorder
• heart problems
• had a heart attack, stroke, or angina in the past
• asthma

You should only take high blood pressure medication if you have been diagnosed with hypertension. Some high blood pressure medication is suitable for adults and children, while others can only be taken by adults. Most tablets cannot be taken if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, so speak to your doctor first.

You should not take any other medication that can lower your blood pressure, unless you have spoken to your doctor first. This includes Viagra, some antidepressants, medication for an enlarged prostate, and baclofen (a muscle relaxant).

The best way to treat high blood pressure is with medication. You may need to take more than one medication to lower your blood pressure to a normal range.

You can also make lifestyle changes, including:

• losing weight, if you are overweight
• stopping smoking
• eating a healthy low fat diet
• cutting down on the amount of salt you consume (so this is less than 6g a day)
• exercising regularly
• cutting down on alcohol intake
• drinking less caffeine