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Antihypertensives

Antihypertensives are drugs commonly prescribed to help lower blood pressure when appropriate diet and regular physical activity alone have not succeeded. High blood pressure is also called hypertension. Antihypertensive drugs act in one of two major ways: by helping relax and expand (dilate) blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily or by acting on the kidneys to help increase urination. Some of the more common antihypertensives include diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor antagonists, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers. Some of these drugs may also be prescribed for heart failure and arrhythmia patients.

Figure 1: Antihypertensive drugs
Figure 2: Anithypertensives are prescribed to lower blood pressure.
Figure 3: Antihypertensives can lower blood pressure by dilating blood vessels.
Figure 4: Antihypertensives can lower blood pressure by increasing urination.

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