In addition to treatment of hypertension, these drugs are used to treat angina, migraine, and atherosclerosis. This reduces blood pressure very effectively. Potassium-sparing diuretics have also been developed. Recent studies have shown the ACE inhibitors to be extremely safe drugs. ACE is an enzyme which converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II, the active form.
Angiotensin receptors modulate the tension of smooth muscle, including venous and arterial tissue.
Inhibiting the enzyme decreases the amount of active peptide extant in body tissues.