Hypertension Blog

Many types of diuretics are used to mobilize edematous fluid, reduce pulmonary vein pressure, and reduce preload. Usually, a physician first prescribes a thiazide diuretic. These drugs reduce hypertension and treat edema by inhibiting sodium reabsorption in the distal renal tubule and promoting sodium and water excretion. If your patient has pulmonary edema, his physician also may prescribe morphine to reduce preload and control anxiety.By acting on the loop of Henle, loop diuretics also promote sodium and water excretion. With thiazide or loop diuretics, the patient may need potassium supplements. Or the physician may prescribe potassium sparing diuretics if the patient is prone to hypokalemia.

The only class of drugs that improves survival in patients with heart failure, vasodilators reduce systemic vascular resistance and pulmonary and peripheral vein pressures, increase left ventricular stroke volume and CO, and enhance myocardial function by reducing myocardial oxygen demand. Sodium nitroprusside, a potent vasodilator, commonly is administered for acute heart failure.

A physician also may prescribe an ACE inhibitor. These drugs prevent the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, thus increasing CO by reducing systemic vascular resistance.