When it comes to matters of the heart, beta-blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin®) are some of the most-loved medications, and for good reason. They’re just about the hardest-working medications around. Beta-blockers may be used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain. Plus: “They’ve been shown to improve survival and prevent life-threatening heart rhythm problems in patients who have had a heart attack or those with heart failure,” says Jeffrey Goldberger, MD. He is the chief of the cardiovascular division and professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida.
Boning up on the benefits of beta-blockers
Beta-blockers can treat a range of both acute and chronic conditions, including:
- Rapid heartbeat
- High blood pressure
- Heart attack
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Coronary artery disease
- Congestive heart failure
In fact, these potent medications are considered one of the most effective treatments for congestive heart failure. This condition occurs when the heart isn’t able to pump as well as it should. It can cause swelling in the legs and lead to fluid buildup in the lungs. (That’s the “congestive” part.)
To fully understand how beta-blockers such as atenolol work, first you need to know about beta-receptors. These are tiny proteins that live on the outer surface of many cells in specific areas of the body. When the nervous system sends out certain chemical messengers, such as adrenaline, the role of beta-receptors is to attach to them. When this occurs, the body reacts by kicking important functions into overdrive: The heart beats faster, blood vessels constrict, airways relax, and the kidneys increase the production of a protein that boosts blood pressure.
Now enter beta-blockers. They come to the rescue by attaching to beta-receptors, stopping those chemical messengers from binding to their receptors. Now all of those processes that were in overdrive start to take it easy. The heart stops working so hard, and heart rate slows. Electrical signals in the heart are more efficient, blood vessels relax, and blood pressure lowers. (Learn how you can get your heart medication for less with Optum Perks. Download our discount card now.)
Here are a few more ways they help:
- Beta-blockers can keep your heart from reacting too strongly to stress hormones such as adrenaline, says Dr. Goldberger. That protection is important when the heart is already weakened, such as after a heart attack or from heart failure.
- Over time, they may also help your heart pump more efficiently, although experts aren’t sure why.
- Beta-blockers can block the effects of stress and anger in people prone to atrial fibrillation (afib), according to a study in the journal HeartRhythm. Afib can cause an irregular, rapid heart rate that may cause palpitations, fatigue and shortness of breath.