In: Anatomy and Physiology
1. Explain how/why Beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors would work to reduce blood pressure (ie, what ASPECT of blood pressure is affected, and how is it affected
Beta blockers work by blocking the beta 1 and beta 2 receptors which in turn prevents the effects of norepinephrine and epinephrine on heart and blood vessels, this would result in reduction of heart rate or cause your heart to beat more slowly and with less force, and in addition to this it causes vasodilation of blood vessels (increase in diameter of blood vessels), all this would result in reduction of blood pressure.
ACE inhibitors (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors) work by preventing a substance called angiotensin I from converting into angiotensin 2, this angiotensin-2 causes your blood vessels to narrow or constrict, By preventing this change, the blood vessels remain relaxed and blood pressure decreases, in addition to this angiotensin 2 is responsible for stimulating a hormone aldosterone from adrenal glands, this hormone acts on kidney to reabsorb water and retain sodium so that blood volume increases with that blood pressure also increases, so by preventing this change from happening it will in turn decrease blood pressure.