Doxazosin Uses (Cont.)

Doxazosin Uses for High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is a measurement of the pressure inside your blood vessels. A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers -- for example, 120/80. The top number is known as the systolic blood pressure, and the bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) is defined as an average blood pressure higher than 140/90 with multiple blood pressure readings (normal blood pressure is usually around 120/80).
 
High blood pressure is common and can cause serious health problems, including:
 
 
For most people, there is no specific cause of hypertension (see Causes of High Blood Pressure).
 
Most people have no symptoms of high blood pressure. Or, symptoms may not appear for several years. Symptoms of high blood pressure include:
 
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea (upset stomach).
     
It is important to understand that hypertension may be causing serious damage even if you do not have any hypertension symptoms.
 
Lifestyle changes used to treat hypertension include exercise, weight loss, and limited alcohol intake. Stress may have an effect on blood pressure as well (see Stress and High Blood Pressure). Following a high blood pressure diet, such as the DASH diet, may also help to lower blood pressure (see High Blood Pressure Diet).
 
Many high blood pressure medications are available, of which doxazosin is one. It works by blocking alpha-1 receptors, which allows the blood vessels to relax. As a result, blood flows more easily though them and pressure is lowered in the blood vessels. However, doxazosin is not a cure for high blood pressure.
 
(Click Hypertension Medications for more information on the different blood pressure medications available.)
 
(Doxazosin Uses Continued: Page 3)

Pages:

Previous 1 2 3 Next

Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;