How Does A Beta Blocker Work?

Posted on Tue, 6 Oct 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 6 Oct 2015 Answered on

Tue, 27 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : how does a beta blocker work?

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (34 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Beta blockers work on the heart and blood vessels

Detailed Answer:
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You are wanting to know how beta blockers work? The heart and blood vessels have receptors on them that can either increase heart rate or decrease it. The beta receptors actually will increase the heart rate so beta blockers block the receptors and will cause the heart rate to decrease. By slowing the heart rate you reduce the blood pressure and in some cases reduce the risk for atrial fibrillation and other heart arrhythmias. In the blood vessels beta blockers will also help dilate blood vessels and help reduce blood pressure but to the same extant as reducing heart rate will.

Beta blockers are also better thought of as anti adrenalin drugs. The actually block adrenalin from doing its work.

I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any further questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar