What are antihypertensives primarily used for?

Antihypertensives are primarily utilized to lower blood pressure. These medications work by various mechanisms to relax blood vessels, reduce heart rate, or decrease blood volume, thereby diminishing the workload on the heart and managing hypertension. High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke, making the effective management of blood pressure crucial for overall health.

This class of medications can include diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and beta-blockers, among others, each targeting different pathways to decrease blood pressure effectively. The primary goal is to maintain blood pressure within a normal range to reduce the risk of complications associated with chronic hypertension.