High blood pressure medication protects against heart attacks and strokes.
Here, university chief physician Professor Martin Halle explains how the tablets work.
Drugs play a key role in the fight against high blood pressure - one of the worst risk factors for heart attacks, strokes and severe kidney damage.
Experts estimate that the approximately 20 million hypertension patients in Germany swallow over 15 billion tablets every year.
"With a clever treatment strategy consisting of medication and lifestyle changes, blood pressure can even be reduced from very high values to the normal range," emphasizes Professor Martin Halle.
The cardiologist and Munich preventive physician specializes in the treatment of high blood pressure, among other things, and has many useful tips for everyday use in store.
The most important blood pressure reducers at a glance
drug group | trade names | Effect |
beta blockers | e.g. e.g. metoprolol, bisoprolol | "They restrict the pumping function of the heart somewhat, which reduces blood pressure," explains Prof. Martin Halle. Beta blockers also protect the heart from the effects of stress hormones. The disadvantage of these remedies: “Beta blockers often make you a little tired. They can cause erectile dysfunction, and patients sometimes find it difficult to lose weight.” |
ACE inhibitors and AT1 blockers | e.g. B. ramipril, lisinopril or losartan, valsartan, candesartan | “To put it simply, these drugs block factors that constrict the vessels. Conversely, the vessels remain dilated and the blood pressure falls,” reports Halle. “These drugs are now the first choice because they hardly have any major side effects. Sartans sometimes trigger a cough.” |
calcium channel blockers | e.g. e.g. amlodipine, verapamil, nitrendipine | They also act as vasodilators, but in a different way. “Calcium plays an important role in muscle tension. The drugs block the injection of calcium into the arterial walls and thus reduce the tension in the vascular walls,” explains the cardiologist and preventive medicine specialist. However, calcium channel blockers can cause edema. Water accumulates in the body, usually in the legs. |
diuretics | e.g. B. HCT or indapamide | They are popularly called water tablets because they boost the elimination of salt and water. However, you have to accept that you go to the toilet more often. "Diuretics can sometimes also cause an enlargement of the prostate and accelerate the development of diabetes," says Halle. |
Rule of thumb: Each individual remedy lowers blood pressure by five to ten mmHg
There are different types of antihypertensives.
Usually two or three drugs are combined.
As a rule of thumb, each individual remedy lowers blood pressure by around five to ten mmHg - that means millimeters of mercury and is the traditional unit of measurement for measuring blood pressure.
This is how the high blood pressure tablets work in the body
Blood pressure is influenced by two factors: on the one hand, by the blood volume – the larger it is, the higher the pressure on the vessel walls.
On the other hand, the condition of the vessel walls - if they lose elasticity, become stiff and brittle, then the pressure increases as well.
"The usual high blood pressure medications come into play on these two parameters," explains Prof. Martin Halle, Medical Director of Preventive Sports Medicine and Sports Cardiology at the Technical University of Munich.
The treatment strategy of physicians against high blood pressure
Drug therapy has changed over the past few decades.
While doctors used to initially only prescribe one remedy, nowadays two or three preparations are usually combined with one another - all in the lowest possible dosage.
"It's much more effective than just prescribing a maximum dose of one drug - partly because the effect of the individual drugs is multiplied in combination," Halle knows.
The most common tablet combinations for high blood pressure
+
Always on the move: the prevention physician Professor Martin Halle from the Technical University of Munich.
If you exercise regularly, you strengthen your cardiovascular system and keep your blood pressure values under control.
© NICKI SCHAEFER
The combination of ACE inhibitors and calcium antagonists is the classic entry point into high blood pressure therapy.
They have overtaken beta-blockers and diuretics because they cause fewer side effects.
Diuretics are often added to ACE inhibitors and AT1 blockers.
“You can achieve a lot with such three-way suits.
For example, they make it possible to reduce the readings from 170/100 mmHg to 130/80,” reports Halle.
“If you move around more and consume less salt and less alcohol, then blood pressure values are definitely back in the normal range of 120/80 mm Hg.
In many cases, those who really follow the healthier lifestyle can reduce the dose of medication after a year or two, sometimes even do without it completely after weight loss and regular, daily exercise.”