What are the typical treatments used for managing hypertension?

Prepare for Dunphy Primary Care Exam 3 with interactive quizzes, detailed explanations, and flashcards. Enhance your understanding and get ready to ace your exam!

Managing hypertension often involves a combination of various classes of medications, with the most commonly used being diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers.

Diuretics help remove excess sodium and fluid from the body, which reduces blood volume and consequently lowers blood pressure. They are often considered first-line therapy for hypertension due to their effectiveness and safety profile.

ACE inhibitors work by blocking the action of the angiotensin-converting enzyme, which leads to vasodilation and reduces blood pressure. They are particularly beneficial for patients with heart failure or those with conditions like diabetes, as they also provide renal protective effects.

Calcium channel blockers prevent calcium from entering cells of the heart and blood vessel walls, leading to decreased heart contractility and relaxation of vessels, which results in lower blood pressure. They are effective, especially in patients with isolated systolic hypertension or those who experience angina.

The combination of these three classes targets hypertension from different physiological mechanisms, making option B a well-rounded approach for managing high blood pressure.

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