Diuretics lower blood pressure in hypervolemic patients by reducing blood volume. They may also work in patients with normal blood volume by increasing venous capacitance. Advantages include low cost and the convenience of once-a-day dosing. A variety of thiazide-type diuretics are commercially available, including hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, metolazone, and indapamide. All have similar hypotensive effects, although [...]
Hypertension is an important contributor to cardiovascular disease, which accounts for about half of all deaths in Western societies. Its proper control is therefore of major importance. While there is still controversy about the proper criteria to diagnose hypertension, it is generally agreed that a person with an average blood pressure of 160/90 mm Hg [...]
