Hypertension (high blood pressure) is often called the silent killer because of its lack of symptoms. Hypertension is a leading risk factor for heart disease. While lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, physical activity and reduced salt intake help lower blood pressure, medications are usually the treatment of choice. Drugs used to reduce blood pressure include diuretics, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers. A German study showed that physicians are reluctant to prescribe diuretics as the principal method for lowering blood pressure, even though they work as well as other drugs. Many bodybuilders take diuretics when cutting for a contest, but they can interfere with cardiovascular capacity because they reduce blood volume. (Journal Clinical Hypertension, published online)
