Mechanism of Action of Angiotensin II Type- 1 (AT1) Receptor Blockers Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are a class of medications that work by blocking the effects of angiotensin II, a powerful hormone that constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure. ARBs do this by binding to and blocking the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1 receptor) , which is found in many tissues throughout the body, including the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys. When angiotensin II binds to the AT1 receptor, it causes a number of effects, including: Vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) Aldosterone release (a hormone that causes the kidneys to retain sodium and water) Catecholamine release (adrenaline and noradrenaline, which also raise blood pressure) Hypertrophic response (thickening of the heart muscle) By blocking the AT1 receptor, ARBs prevent these effects from occurring, which leads to a lowering of blood pressure. ARBs are also known to have other beneficial effects, such as
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