Antihypertensive therapy - efficacy and quality of life
Article Abstract:
Current studies of anti-high blood pressure drugs focus on ways to individualize treatment and improve patients' quality of life. Since the National High Blood Pressure Education Program was established in 1971, screening for high blood pressure has increased dramatically and the percentage of patients being treated for high blood pressure has risen from 36% to 73%. Over 68 different anti-high blood pressure drugs are available, with varying levels of effectiveness. A recent study on men with high blood pressure who were treated with six different drugs found that drug efficacy varied with the race and age of the patients. Another study found that lifestyle modification may be more effective than drugs in lowering high blood pressure and more important to the patient's quality of life than which drug is chosen. A third study found that patients' quality of life varies not only with drugs from different pharmacologic classes but also with drugs from the same class.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1993
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The effect of an endothelin-receptor antagonist, bosentan, on blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension
Article Abstract:
A drug that blocks the action of endothelin appears to be effective in the treatment of hypertension. Endothelin is a naturally occurring chemical in the body that constricts blood vessels. Researchers randomly assigned 293 patients with hypertension to take various dosages of the drug bosentan, which prevents endothelin from binding to its receptor. Some patients took a placebo and others took the ACE inhibitor enalapril. Bosentan was just as effective in reducing high blood pressure as enalapril, which is also used to treat hypertension.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1998
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Fenoldopam --a selective peripheral dopamine-receptor agonist for the treatment of severe hypertension
Article Abstract:
The development, physiological effects, and therapeutic use of fenoldopam are reviewed. This is an antihypertensive drug that was developed to treat severe hypertension and hypertensive crises.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 2001
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