Antihypertensive Therapy

Abstract

It has traditionally been thought, but only recently demonstrated conclusively, that interventions which lower blood pressure also lower morbidity and mortality. Confirmation comes from successful and regular use of a variety of antihypertensive drugs that were first introduced in the 1950’s and 60’s. The antihypertensive agents that are currently in use or under consideration can be roughly grouped according to mechanisms of action as diuretics and natriuretics, beta-adrenergic receptor blockers, sympatholytics and drugs that act on the central nervous system, direct vasodilators, and converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin antagonists. The last group will be discussed in detail in the following chapter.