| Beta blockers are drugs that are used to block the | | | | |
| norepinephrine as well as the epinephrine or adrenaline | | | | Other Benefits of Beta Blockers |
| from becoming clotted in beta receptors or the nerves. | | | | |
| Such effects could be highly dangerous for a person, | | | | Beta blockers have proved to be prevention of heart |
| especially one who is ailing. | | | | attacks as well as death due to heart attack. While |
| | | | | some of them are used for the treatment of |
| Types of Beta Receptors | | | | hyperthyroidism, and akathisia, others are used for |
| | | | | treatment of anxiety, aqueous humor in the eyes and |
| Three types of beta receptors are there controlling | | | | glaucoma. |
| multiple functions in the anatomy depending on their | | | | |
| respective locations in the body. These are – | | | | Different Beta Blockers block Different Beta |
| | | | | Receptors |
| • Beta 1 or the B1 receptors that are located in | | | | |
| heart, kidneys, and eyes; | | | | Usually the beta blockers differ according to the types |
| | | | | of beta receptors they block. Thus the effects of |
| • Beta 2 or the B2 receptors that are located in | | | | these blockers are as follows; - |
| lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract, liver, uterus, skeletal | | | | |
| muscles, and blood vessels; | | | | • Non selective beta blockers those block the B1 |
| | | | | and B2 receptors, are called propranolol or Inderal that |
| • Beta 3 or B3 receptors that is located in fat | | | | can affect heart, blood vessels as well as air |
| cells. | | | | passages; |
| | | | | |
| Functions of Beta Blockers | | | | • Selective blockers or metoprolol like the |
| | | | | lopressor or Toporol XL block the B1 receptors and |
| Usually the beta blockers block the B1 and B2 | | | | affect the heart only without affecting air passages. |
| receptors. In result the effects of norepinephrine as | | | | |
| well as epinephrine are that they reduce the heart | | | | • Some of the beta blockers like the pindolol |
| rates, blood pressure, dilate blood vessels and constrict | | | | create intrinsic sympathetic activities that mimic effects |
| air passages. Air passages are constricted by | | | | of epinephrine as well as norepinephrine. In result these |
| stimulating the muscles that are located around the air | | | | effects can cause increase in blood pressure as well |
| passage. | | | | as heart rates. |
| | | | | |
| Beta Blockers Uses | | | | • Beta blockers that have ISA create smaller |
| | | | | effects on heart rates than the agents that do not |
| Beta blockers are used for treatment of abnormal | | | | have ISA. |
| heart rhythm, high blood pressure, heart failure, tremor, | | | | |
| pheochromocytoma and also for prevention of | | | | • Labetalol and Carvedilol block both betas as well |
| migraines. | | | | as alpha-1 receptors. |