Vasodilators
Vasodilators are not commonly used alone to treat ongoing high blood pressure because of the significant drop in blood pressure that they cause, which may lead to heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat - Robin Parks MS
image by: Mechanistic Pharmacology
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Vasodilator Drugs
Vasodilators are used to treat hypertension, heart failure and angina; however, some vasodilators are better suited than others for these indications. Some vasodilators that act primarily on resistance vessels (arterial dilators) are used for hypertension, and heart failure, and angina; however, reflex cardiac stimulation makes some arterial dilators unsuitable for angina.
Venous dilators are very effective for angina, and sometimes used for heart failure, but are not used as primary therapy for hypertension. Most vasodilator drugs are mixed (or balanced) vasodilators in that they dilate both arteries and veins and therefore can have wide application in hypertension, heart failure…
Resources
Natural vasodilators: How to dilate blood vessels naturally and increase blood flow
Nitric oxide can reduce blood pressure as well as prevent artery blockage and stroke. Boosting nitric oxide levels with food is sometimes a preferred option. No matter what your taste buds are like, you are bound to find something on the following list of natural vasodilators that you can enjoy.
A List of Foods that Lower High Blood Pressure and Reduce Hypertension
Several studies support how nutrients in specific foods act as natural vasodilators. The foods that show the most effective results are high in potassium, magnesium, nitrates and calcium. Other beneficial properties include the various Omega oils, flavonoids, phytochemicals and antioxidants.
The Benefits Of Juicing Beets
The beetroot juice reduces blood pressure. One study concluded that drinking 500mL of beetroot juice a day could help prevent heart attack and stroke due to its ability to lower blood pressure. This juice is a natural vasodilator which means that it causes the blood vessels to expand. The beets help rebuild red blood cells. Beetroot also increases the blood flow to the brain in older adults which may help decrease the risk of dementia.
Vasodilators in Acute Heart Failure: Review of the Latest Studies
Vasodilators play an important role in the management of acute heart failure, particularly when increased afterload is the precipitating cause of decompensation. The time-honored approach to afterload reduction has been largely focused on use of intravenous nitrovasodilators and, when properly dosed, this class of agents does provide substantial symptom relief for patients with acute hypertensive heart failure.
Interventional Pharmacology—Vasodilators
Medications that vasodilate the coronary arteries are frequently used during coronary angiography and intervention.
Vasodilator Drugs
Vasodilators are used to treat hypertension, heart failure and angina; however, some vasodilators are better suited than others for these indications.
Drugs.com
List of vasodilators...
GlobalRPh
Summary of common vasodilators.
MedicineNet
What are vasodilators, and how do they work (mechanism of action).
Nitrates
My personal view is that these medications are seriously underused. Nitrates have substantial benefits both for chronic stable coronary disease and for heart failure - James Januzzi MD
Hydralazine (Apresoline)
In current practice, oral hydralazine is used in essential hypertension refractory to other therapeutic agents. Studies comparing its effects as an add-on medication to multidrug treatment for hypertension have proved effective but not as efficacious as other multi-modal first-line therapies - Linda Herman
Phentolamine Mesylate
Well known in dental and endocrine circles but can be a skin saver when it comes to vasopressor extravasation - HWN
Natural Vasodilators
A strong natural vasodilator is nitrate, found in high concentrations in beets, spinach, and lettuce. After eating these vegetables, the saliva acts to convert the nitrate to nitrite. In the stomach, gastric acid produces nitric oxide from the nitrite. Nitric oxide signals the lining of the blood vessels to relax, and thereby expand or dilate.
ScienceDirect
Vasodilators are highly effective antihypertensive agents that dominated the management of hypertension in the 1950s and 1960s. However, treatment with these agents is associated with an unacceptable level of adverse reactions. With the advent of newer and better-tolerated antihypertensive agents, their use has declined dramatically. Many vasodilators can now be considered only of historical interest.
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