Your heart doctor may prescribe one of many over-the-counter prescription drugs used to treat hypertension. Such medications may include diuretics, beta blockers, or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. All of these have been designed to reduce high blood pressure in a patient. Thiazide diuretics are often the first choice of any doctor when it comes to treating high blood pressure. Such diuretics are often referred to as water pills. They act on your kidney to eliminate sodium and water in the body, reducing the volume of blood throughout your system to reduce your hypertension.
Along with medications, your doctor may recommend a healthy diet with less salt, regular exercise, and zero smoking. Maintaining a healthy weight is a vital part of combating high blood pressure. However, these changes are not always enough, and thus medicine is often prescribed.