What Is A Beta Blocker And How Does It Affect Bloo
Beta blockers are a class of drugs used for various indications, but mainly for the management of cardiac arrhythmias and hypertension. Beta blockers can also be referred to as beta-adrenergic blocking agents, beta-adrenergic antagonists, or beta antagonists.
The sympathetic nervous system activates what is referred to as the fight or flight response in the body. It is typically triggered during times of stress or when the body has a need for increased cardiac output. As the sympathetic nervous system sends signals to the heart to beat more rapidly, the adrenal glands discharge a hormone called norepinephrine. This secretion of adrenaline causes the SA nodal membrane to become permeable, allowing gated channels to open permitting sodium and calcium ions to flood inside which increases the rate of depolarization causing heart rate and blood pressure to increase.
Beta blockers block the normal bonding action of epinephrine and norepinephrine in particular, on beta-adrenergic receptors on the SA nodal membrane in the heart during sympathetic response. Beta blockers serve to block or limit the sympathetic firing which in turn decreases blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac contractility and AV conduction. The blocked norepinephrine is then restored for later use.
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