Understanding Medications for Systolic Hypertension: A Comprehensive Guide

Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is a medical condition in which a person's systolic pressure, the amount of pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts, is greater than 140 mm Hg, while the diastolic pressure remains at or below 90 mm Hg.

Diuretics

• Small doses of diuretics, like Lasix® (furosemide) and Diuril® (chlorothiazide), have been found effective in lowering a patient's systolic pressure. Diuretics are sometimes called "water pills" because they induce urination as a means of eliminating salt from the body.

Calcium channel blockers

• Medications like Cardizem® LA (diltiazem hydrochloride), Adalat® CC (nifedipine), and Procardia® (nifedipine) lower systolic blood pressure by blocking calcium deposits in the heart and blood vessel muscle cells. This prevents the vessel walls from hardening.

Beta-blockers

• Beta-blockers like Lopressor® (metoprolol tartrate), Toprol-XL® (metoprolol succinate), and Corgard® (nadolol) decrease the nerve signals sent to the heart and blood vessels, easing blood flow and systolic pressure.

Getting Tested

• Systolic pressure is an excellent indicator of cardiovascular disease in people over 50, so they should monitor their blood pressure closely. Left untreated, ISH can lead to blindness, dementia, heart attack and stroke.

Warning

• A patient undergoing treatment for ISH should be closely monitored to regulate his diastolic pressure. It can drop dangerously low as a result of the medication aimed at lowering systolic pressure.