Alpha-blockers and Alpha-2 agonists’ drugs

Anti-hypertensive will have varied responses to the body once used. A decline or increase in the body blood pressure readings will call for a different drug administration to counter the effect.

The American College of Cardiology Scientific Session observed that alpha-blockers and alpha-2 agonists’ drugs for high blood pressure likely lead to the different blood pressure readings and would cause death without any intervention.

The physicians should administer other blood pressure drugs to their patients to lower the rising probability of deaths that would result. The recommendation was made by the researchers from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Utah.

According to Dr. Brian A. Clements, as the physicians monitors the blood pressure readings upon a patient return visit, little or no variation will confer improvement and subsequent normal health condition.

Although the previous study reports show a relationship between the large differences in blood pressure with increased death rate, there is no direct dependence on the medication type offered for high blood pressure treatment.

Some patients about 10,500 people with at least seven blood pressure readings were selected and used for a study. The enrollment was between 2007 and 2011 and participants were observed for at least five years, through June 2016.

During the research, the different blood pressure readings and the different antihypertensive drug used by each patient was recorded. Dr. Clyde Yancy, chief of cardiology in the department of medicine at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, suggested that the research findings could demonstrate decreased drug efficacy rather than more of its toxic effect. In addition, while speaking on behalf of the American heart association, he suggested that other more factors needed to be considered to come up with the relevant cause of harm. For example, he mentioned that though alpha-blockers and alpha-2 agonists are less toxic they register less effective and efficacious index.

 Advancing treatment interventions for high blood pressure

For effective treatment, the research results reveal an ever increasing trend among the U.S healthcare and greatly focus on reaching a healthy blood pressure range.

Different blood pressure ranges would be compared as high blood pressure readings as compared to others. New scientific guidelines initially considered for 140/90 high blood pressure reading but now consider 130/80 for high blood pressure reading. These guidelines caused uncertainty as many U.S adults approximately 46% were categorized to be with high blood pressure.

There is a great risk of stroke and death in patients succumbing to heart diseases. According to Yancy, as hypertension treatment advances, blood pressure regulation in patients with a higher heart disease risk is helped.

 Suggested medications for hypertension

The following are some examples of antihypertensive drugs approved and with higher effectiveness and efficacy than alpha-blockers and alpha-2 agonists. Yancy and Clements list them as:

  • thiazide diuretics (chlorthalidone, hydrochlorothiazide)
  • ACE inhibitors (benazepril, zofenopril, lisinopril, and many others)
  • calcium channel blockers (amlodipine, diltiazem)
  • angiotensin II receptor blockers (losartan, valsartan)

Yancy suggested that they are all safe and effective.

Personal health care and monitoring

Blood pressure above 130/80 mm Hg is an alarm for one to seek medical care to ascertain the type of disorder and the relevant interventions to put in place. However, Yancy mentioned that patients should not be deceived that antihypertensive drugs are the only solution to high blood pressure condition.

In addition, he mentioned that the initial therapy for hypertension is not always about drug administration but a call to check on the patient lifestyle. Additional medications are offered to patients that suffer a greater blood pressure risk.

 Terms used in blood pressure readings

Blood pressure readings are represented as systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure, this means in every blood pressure reading, the “top” number is for systolic blood pressure which refers to the pressure that is exerted against arterial walls when the heart beats while the “lower” number is diastolic blood pressure, which represents the pressure exerted against arterial walls in between heart beats.

The following recommendations by Clement suggest that if well followed accurate and consistent readings would be acquired:

  1. Ensure rest by sitting or lying down for 15 minutes before obtaining any blood pressure reading.
  2. Avoid any task that would lead to stress before obtaining any reading.
  3. Use an appropriate blood pressure cuff that fits. It shouldn’t be too large or too tight.