Common High Blood Pressure Medications - Know These 8 Types

There are eight common medications used to treat high blood pressure. While many people dealing with hypertension will possibly be prescribed a combination of a variety of these medications, the amount of medication needed depends greatly on the type and the level of severity of the illness. While antihypertensive medicines are used to lower blood pressure to normal levels, medications should always be used in combination with a healthy lifestyle change. The main objectives of high blood pressure medications are to not only lower blood pressure but to minimize the side effects caused by some of the medicines. Diuretics Water pills are used to remove excess salt from the body. The increase in salt in a person's body causes the blood vessels to retain more fluid than needed. The release of excess fluid in blood vessels, takes a strain off the vessels and arteries. Examples: Thalitone, Lasix, Esidrix, Lozol, Dyazide, and Maxzide. Beta-Blockers Beta-Blockers are used to reduce the amount of blood pressure flowing through the body, by slowing the heart rate down, it allows for an optimal flow of blood throughout the vessels. Examples: Sectral, Tenormin, Coreg, Lopressor, Toprol, Corgard, Inderal and Blocadren. ACE Inhibitors (Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) The hormone Angiotensin II can cause the blood vessels to narrow; ACE inhibitors stop that hormone from production. Examples: Lotensin, Vasotec, Prinivil, Zestril, Accupril, Altace, and Mavik. ARBs (Angiotensin II receptor blockers) This medication defends blood vessels from narrowing affects from angiotensin II. Examples: Atacand, Avapro, Cozaar, Benicar, Micardis, and Diovan. CCBs (Calcium channel blockers) Calcium entering from the body's cells can cause blood vessels to constrict, CCB's stop that from happening. Examples: Norvasc, Cardizem, Cartia, Dilacor, Tiazac, Plendil, Cardene, Adalat, Procardia, Calan, Covera, Isoptin, and Verelan. Alpha-Blockers Alpha-Blockers are used to reduce nerve pressure to allow blood to pass in vessels more freely. Examples: Cardura, Minipress, and Hytrin. Centrally acting drugs Centrally acting drugs work with a person's brain chemistry to control nerve impulses that narrow the blood vessels. Examples: Catapres and Methyldopa. Direct vasodilators Direct vasodilators perform by widening the blood vessels to allow more blood to circulate. Examples: Apresoline and Loniten. Alvin Hopkinson is a leading and avid researcher of various high blood pressure treatment. He runs an informational website that provides free tips to lower your hypertension and unbiased reviews on medications such as Cardura. To grab your FREE report on how to prevent and treat high blood pressure, make sure you visit Alvin's site at http://www.minusbloodpressure.com

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Treating Hypothyroidism With Synthroid

Synthroid is a brand name for levothyroxine, a synthetic thyroid hormone responsible for bodies metabolism. Synthroid is given as a treatment for hypothyroidism, which is a disorder whereby the thyroid gland has stopped producing enough thyroid hormone. This condition causes the body's rate of metabolism to drop, with resulting negative effects on its reproductive system. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, swallowing difficulty, wild mood swings, hoarse voice, forgetfulness, sensitivity to cold and dry/coarse hair and skin. Synthroid has to be cautiously prescribed by a doctor as a supplement or replacement, in order to restore the delicate balance of the thyroid hormone in your body. When undergoing a Synthroid treatment, avoid the following food products, which can cause your body to absorb less of this synthetic hormone: infant soy formula, cottonseed meal, walnuts, and high-fiber foods. Make sure not to change brands without first asking your doctor as different brands of levothyroxine may work differently for the same patient. Therefore, if you have a prescription refill with different looking pills inside than what you are used to, you would need to talk to your doctor or the pharmacist. If you overdose on Synthroid, seek medical attention immediately. You will get these symptoms on overdose of this medicine: chest pain, pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath, tremor, leg cramps, confusion, vomiting, diarrhea, or seizures. In addition, should you have missed a dose on Synthroid, do not double up on it on your next dosage. Keep to a regularly scheduled time with the prescribed dosage, never to add extra to make up for any missed dose. Your doctor may change the dosage required over time to get the best results, follow the instructions properly. Do not continue taking the dosage for longer than what the doctor prescribed. Take Synthroid 30 minutes before eating, preferably in the morning, and remember to take it at the same time each day, according to doctor's instructions. It is important that you take Synthroid with a full glass (8 ounces) of water, as the tablet can dissolve very quickly and swell in your throat causing gagging or choking. You will need to schedule regular visits to your doctor for blood, liver, or kidney tests while undergoing this treatment, and do not forget these scheduled visits. You would also need to inform any other doctor or dentist you are visiting, that you are using Synthroid. Once you are on Synthroid however, chances are high that you will continue taking it for the rest of your life. If you take levothyroxine for long periods of time, it may cause loss of bone, leading to osteoporosis. Be sure this possibility is addressed when talking to your doctor. Other things you need to discuss before taking Synthroid include if you have any history of heart disease, coronary artery disease, anemia, diabetes, adrenal or pituitary gland problems, or blood clots. Disclaimer: If you need more information about Synthroid, talk to your doctor or a qualified professional. [Copyright � 2007, Heather Colman. Find more of Heather's articles at eBook Palace. Her articles are available for syndication. Reprinting individual articles is permissible provided no changes are made.]

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The Way To Reduce Health Care Premiums

As the fitness craze becomes more and more popular, and forward thinking people shift to a more healthy way of living, the over all premiums for health care continue to skyrocket. Several factors contribute to health care insurance being as pricey as it is. Advancements in the field of medicine, growing demand for health care facilities, rising costs for prescriptions, longer life spans are among some of the things that are making health insurance premiums rise. There's nothing you can do to stop inflation, but there is something you can do to cut down your personal health insurance costs. Take control of your overall health so your lifestyle earns maximum medicare health benefits. Eat a balanced diet, stay active and practice good health routines. There isn't anyone that will be as concerned about your health than you are, particularly as you get older, so you need to do something now before a difficult health issue overwhelms you. It's really is not as tough as it seems, good health generally comes down to basics such as drinking enough water and eating well. Something as easy as carrying around a bottle of water with you to take regular drinks can help you to feel better. Buying higher quality food easily can become a habit. To get the most out of personal health insurance, a healthier lifestyle is going to pay off with reduced health care premiums and better quality of living. Seek Professional Advice Begin by cutting down on smoking and alcohol, then find a physical activity you like that will keep you busy and moving. Eat better by following the advice of high profile nutritionists such as Dr. Gary Null (garynull.com) or Dr. Nicholas Perricone (nvperriconemd.com). Get more active with some type of exercise everyday, like a one hour walk or aerobics. Decrease your sugar intake and get plenty of sleep. Taking care of yourself is going to go a long way for making the most of health care insurance. Statistics show that children of parents that are health conscious typically follow a lifestyle that is similar. If you plan to become a parent or you're a parent now, show them by example. You are going to look and feel better as well as live a more beneficial life. Choose Good Personal Health There are a lot of advantages to living a healthy lifestyle. Medicare insurance and services are outstanding social programs, however, they're fairly limited. That's a likely reason that private health insurance exists. Better health begins with a personal decision, which you can make right now. Doing so will generate a sense of higher self esteem, well being, self-reliance and many other benefits --not to mention looking and feeling your very best. Even with the consistently rising costs of medical care premiums, it's possible to lower your rates with a healthier lifestyle. Contact a health care provider in order to see what is truly expected of you so that you can get the lowest premiums available. If you are young, this is the best time to get health care insurance savings. Good health is much easier to maintain than to get back after you've lost it, and those health insurance premiums shoot up if you're diagnosed with a serious disease or health problem. *** Tips For Medicare Programs *** Government prescription coverage explained Visit our website for a simplified version of Medicare drug plans Medicare Insurance

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Are Alternative, Complimentary, Natural and Holistic Medicine All the Same?

There is such a vast amount of information out there in the public domain that it is sometimes very hard for us to make sense of it all or even to make a choice about our health treatments. I am a layperson that got interested in �other� treatments when I left my general practitioner�s office unconvinced by his theories about my ailing health. I did not want to be tired any more, but suspected that I first had to get to the bottom of the despondency that I seemed to drown in. The first confusing thing I ran into was what were alternative, complementary, natural and holistic medicine � were they all the same thing? I wanted to learn more about the cause of the ailments and not on how to suppress the symptoms. And so I became a strong supporter of the holistic health approach. The adjective "holistic" (often spelled wholistic) spans all four health domains vs. any one of them, spiritual, emotional, physical and mental. Holistic medicine works in harmony with the body�s rhythms and energies, bringing it back as close as possible to its original state. It speaks of �treating the whole person� and harmonizing the person with nature and refers to the various traditional and modern systems of health protection and restoration, which are based on the body's natural healing powers, the many ways the different tissues affect each other and the influence of the external environment. A toxic environment, whether it is family, belief, or relationship, is one which impinges on someone's holistic health. Holistic health looks at life from the perspective that humans function as complete, integrated units rather than as the sum of separate parts. Alternative medicine is often the term used to describe therapies such as Homeopathy, Acupuncture and Naturopathy and provides a genuine alternative to your family doctor�s surgery. The greatest benefit is achieved when holistic practitioners practice alongside conventional doctors but sadly, in most countries this is still more the exception than the rule! Some therapies like metamorphic technique, chelation therapy or Hopi ear candles are effective within a limited range of conditions and are quite restricted and so are by definition complementary. Most people think natural medicine must imply that there is something inherently good about being natural - but not all things natural are beneficial. Arsenic is natural but certainly not beneficial! The biggest challenge is that most of these therapies are certainly not natural, like Homeopathy or Flower Essence. Most therapies involve a concept of natural, vital energy, which provides the driving force for life itself. Asthma inhalers, antibiotics and steroids never actually cure chronic conditions and often leave people dependent on drugs for partial relief. The holistic approach alleviates symptoms while working towards a real cure that removes the need for treatment of any kind. Generally, the more authentically our spiritual, emotional, physical and mental needs are met both locally and chronically, the higher the state of our holistic health. Lizette le Clus-Fox is an ardent advocate for a holistic approach to health and runs http://www.wellnessthoughts.com and her ezine Wellness Thoughts provides regular in-depth information. To learn more about holistic health visit her web site today!

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