Antihypertensive Drugs Overview

What are the categories of antihypertensive drugs?

What is the primary action of antihypertensive agents?

Ninety percent of cases of hypertension have a known cause.

What is essential hypertension?

What characterizes secondary hypertension?

What can make certain antihypertensives unsuitable for treatment?

What is the term for elevated blood pressure that is often called the 'silent killer'?

Antihypertensive Drugs

Antihypertensive drugs affect different areas of blood pressure control, usually in combination for synergistic effect.
90% of hypertension cases have unknown causes.
Antihypertensive agents work by altering the body’s mechanisms for regulating blood pressure, such as baroreceptors and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS).
Individuals respond differently to antihypertensive agents due to the multifactorial nature of hypertension.
Comorbidities, like diabetes or myocardial infarction, can affect the suitability of certain antihypertensive medications.
Hypertension is a serious medical condition that increases the risk of heart, brain, kidney, and other diseases.
Essential hypertension:
- Elevated total peripheral resistance.
- Effective organ perfusion.
- Usually asymptomatic.
- Often referred to as the “silent killer.”
Secondary hypertension:
- Elevated blood pressure is due to a known cause.
- For example, phaeochromocytoma, a tumor in the adrenal medulla, can release high amounts of catecholamines, increasing blood pressure significantly.

This quiz explores the mechanisms, causes, and effects of antihypertensive drugs. Learn about essential and secondary hypertension, as well as factors influencing treatment efficacy. Test your understanding of this critical aspect of cardiovascular health.