They are often used with other high blood pressure drugs. Blood pressure drops and the heart works less hard. They shield blood vessels from a hormone called angiotensin II, which normally causes vessels to narrow. As a result, the vessels are wider and pressure is lower. They relax blood vessels and pressure goes down.
Blood vessels relax and pressure goes down.
One short-acting type of CCB has been found to increase the chance of a repeat heart attack. Short-acting CCBs are taken several times a day. If you are on such a drug, you should talk with your doctor about other medication choices. The finding does not apply to the longer-acting types of CCB, which are taken once a day. As a result, less blood is pumped through the vessels.