For some, lifestyle changes lower high blood pressure enough. For others--and especially those with heart disease--medication may also be needed.

Even if you need medication, be sure to continue your lifestyle changes. The changes help the drug work better. Over time, you may be able to reduce the medication.

Fortunately, there are many blood pressure drugs today. Although you may have to take the drug for a long time, you will get big health benefits from controlling your high blood pressure.

When the doctor prescribes a high blood pressure drug, be sure you understand the instructions. Know the amount you should take, if you should take it each day, and what times you should take it during the day.

If you are not sure about the instructions, ask while you are at the doctor's office or clinic. Write down the instructions. Later, if you do not remember something or are confused, call back and ask. Even if you are having the prescription filled and are unsure about the instructions, call. Do not be embarrassed. You cannot take the drug properly if you don't understand the instructions.

As with all drugs, those for high blood pressure can cause side effects. For example, some can make you sleepy or tired; others can cause a rash or cough.

Pay attention to how you feel. If you think you have a side effect, do not stop taking the drug. That can cause trouble. Instead, tell your doctor as soon as possible about what you feel. The doctor will see if the drug is the cause.

If the drug is causing a side effect, your doctor will probably change its dose or give you a different drug. It may take some adjustments to find the best amount or drug for you.

High Blood Pressure Drugs

High blood pressure drugs work in various ways. They can affect:

• How hard the heart pumps
• How much the blood vessels widen and narrow
• How much fluid is in the body

Your doctor will choose the drug that best suits you. Often, two or more drugs work better than one drug.

The main types of high blood pressure drugs are:

Diuretics--These are sometimes called "water pills" because they work in the kidney and flush excess water and sodium from the body through urine. This reduces the amount of fluid in the blood. And, since sodium is flushed out of blood vessel walls, the vessels open wider. Pressure goes down. There are different types of diuretics. They are often used with other high blood pressure drugs.

Beta blockers--These reduce nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels. This makes the heart beat less often and with less force. Blood pressure drops and the heart works less hard.

Angiotensin antagonists--These are a new type of high blood pressure drug. They shield blood vessels from a hormone called angiotensin II, which normally causes vessels to narrow. As a result, the vessels are wider and pressure lowers.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors--These prevent angiotensin II from being formed. They relax blood vessels and pressure goes down.

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs)--These keep calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels. Blood vessels relax and pressure goes down.

One short-acting type of CCB has been found to increase the chance of a repeat heart attack. Short-acting CCBs are taken several times a day. If you are on such a drug, you should talk with your doctor about other medication choices. The finding does not apply to the longer-acting types of CCB, which are taken once a day.

Alpha blockers--These work on the nervous system to relax blood vessels, which allows blood to pass more easily.

Alpha-beta blockers--These work the same way as alpha blockers but also slow the heartbeat, as beta-blockers do. As a result, less blood is pumped through the vessels.

Nervous system inhibitors--These relax blood vessels by controlling nerve impulses.

Vasodilators--These open blood vessels by relaxing the muscle in the vessel walls.