High Blood Pressure Prescription Medication For Special Groups
High blood pressure is one condition that calls for different treatment in different individuals. While some may benefit from lifestyle changes alone, there are others who may require a more aggressive treatment. And if high blood pressure is present along with other medical conditions, the choice of medication may vary immensely. Here are some special groups and the type of high blood pressure medication used for them.

Diabetes
Diabetes and blood pressure are linked in more ways than just one. While blood pressure can worsen diabetes, diabetes can cause high blood pressure. For patients who are suffering from diabetes as well as high blood pressure, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers are taken as the first line of treatment.

These medications not just keep the blood pressure levels in control but they also protect your kidneys against damage as a result of diabetes. In most cases, diabetics suffering from high blood pressure need to obtain tight blood pressure control. Calcium channel blockers may be used along with other medications for this purpose.

Elderly patients
Though most medications cause side effects in everyone, the risk of side effects is higher in the case of elderly patients. This is because elderly patients have a weakened immune system which makes their body less resistant. Thus, elderly patients need to be prescribed medications that are mild and do not have much side effects. Diuretics are one such class of medication that has minimal side effects. In addition beta blockers may be used if the patient is at a risk of heart stroke.

Patients with history of heart attack
Though high blood pressure is always a risky condition, it can be even more dangerous if the patient has a history of heart attack or other heart problems. Considering the risk levels associated with the condition, there is a need to use a more effective and aggressive treatment for blood pressure. Typically ACE inhibitors and beta blockers are considered as the first line of treatment for blood pressure patients who have a history of heart attacks.

Pregnant women
Treating high blood pressure during pregnancy is a risky thing simple because of the fact that there is always a risk of side effects being passed on to the fetus. Most of the drugs used in the present day scenario to lower blood pressure are unsafe for use during pregnancy. For instance, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers can cause kidney damage and may even lead to death of the fetus. Beta blockers also have similar side effects. A safer drug known as methyldopa can be used to treat high blood pressure during pregnancy. Methyldopa is safe and treats high blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels.