Coronary Artery Disease Treatment: 7 Things You Should Know About Beta Blockers

Beta blockers are a class of drugs normally prescribed to people who have hypertension (elevated blood pressure). However, beta blockers are also included in many treatment paths for coronary artery disease, because they can slow down the heart rate, preventing the vital organ from overloading as it tries to pump blood faster to compensate for the arterial blockage.

1. Beta blockers can cause blood pressure to drop too low

Part of the beta blocker therapy requires checking your pulse on a daily basis. Even when you take the medicine as your doctor prescribed, remember that beta blockers are, first and foremost, blood pressure drugs.

Because they also make the heartbeat slower, taking them can result in a slow pulse, in which case you should contact your doctor about taking the drug that day. Note that even if your pulse is weak, you should not interrupt your beta blocker treatment unless your doctor tells you to. If you do so, it’s possible you will experience severe chest pain. 

2. Beta blockers should be taken with food

Beta blockers can be taken at any time of the day, from morning until evening. While some drugs that require fast absorption, beta blockers are best taken with food, so the body can absorb them slowly. 

As far as the dosage is concerned, you will have to follow your doctor’s recommendations, or check the label to see when and how much you should take. Always pay attention to your doctor’s orders because labels are very general and do not cover every particular case.  The doctor, who is fully aware of your heart problem and your current medical condition will tell you the maximum number of doses for each day, and how long you should wait between two doses. For example, older people normally take lower beta-blocker doses.

3. Beta blocker side effects are common

Beta blockers are very efficient in treating elevated blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Because of the strength of the drugs, it can take the body some time to adjust, meaning that you can expect to have some mild side effects until that happens. 

It’s important to avoid beta blocker treatment for coronary artery disease if you already have low blood pressure or a weak pulse, because the drug will further worsen these problems, causing you to feel dizzy and lightheaded.

Some other side effects of these drugs include shortness of breath, headaches, stomach problems, fatigue, loss of sexual appetite (including erectile dysfunction), trouble sleeping, and depression. 

While side effects are common and to be expected by anyone who has just started a beta blocker treatment, if the symptoms linger for too long or if they keep getting worse, you should consult your doctor.

4. Beta blockers aren’t usually a stand-alone treatment

People who have to take beta blockers will most likely be prescribed other medications for their current health problems. For example, beta blockers can be combined with diuretics for people who have elevated blood pressure. Those who suffer from coronary artery disease might have to take their beta blockers with angiotensin receptor blockers or ACE inhibitors, as this combination can both improve symptoms of heart failure, as well as lower blood pressure.

5. Beta blockers may not be indicated while pregnant

Expecting mothers will have a very hard time taking any sort of medication because whatever ends up in their bloodstream will also affect the developing baby. Beta blockers can affect the child by lowering their heart rate as well as their blood pressure. 

Beta blockers can also end up in the child’s system if the mother is taking them while breastfeeding. Because of that, it’s important to tell your doctor, if you are expecting or if you’re trying to have a baby, to discuss the best possible treatment plan that won’t have an impact on the baby’s development. 

6. Beta blockers are good for all sorts of heart problems

What beta blockers actually do is to prevent the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline) from having the effects it normally has on the body. By reducing adrenaline levels, beta blockers make the heartbeat slower, but they can also help dilate the blood vessels to improve blood circulation.

7. Beta blockers can cause cholesterol to rise

Evidence shows that beta blockers cause a slight increase in triglyceride levels, which can also lead total cholesterol levels to rise. They also cause a slight decrease in good cholesterol levels. 

However, the positive effects of beta blockers for treating heart problems and high blood pressure outweigh the negatives. The changes to cholesterol levels are generally temporary.

Conclusion

While typically known for reducing high blood pressure, the way that beta blockers act inside the body can actually be helpful for people with heart problems, such as coronary artery disease, too. The main effect that beta blockers have is to block the effects of adrenaline, causing the heart to beat slower.