Treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD)

Coronary artery disease is characterized by the fact that less blood, and therefore less nutrients and oxygen, reaches the heart through the narrowed coronary arteries. There is a risk of a heart attack, in which the blood supply to the heart is interrupted and heart muscle tissue dies. In most cases, the coronary arteries are narrowed because their walls have been altered by arteriosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis is also called “arteriosclerosis” and means that there are deposits on the walls of the vessels. In vessels with wall damage caused by arteriosclerosis, it is easy for blood clots to form, which can constrict the vessel even more or even completely block it. In the case of coronary vessels, a vessel occlusion would lead to a heart attack.

In order to prevent a further reduction in blood flow and a heart attack, beta-blockers are used:The beta-blockers reduce the volume of blood that the heart pumps into the circulation per beat. In addition, the pulse rate drops, i.e. the heart beats per minute decrease and the heart has to perform less. With the help of beta-blockers, the heart takes a calmer position and uses less oxygen. This improves the supply of oxygen to the heart or reduces its consumption and prevents an oxygen deficiency. You can find more information on this topic at: Coronary heart disease

Treatment of a heart attack

Therapy with beta-blockers reduces the risk of disease and mortality in the post-heart attack phase. The prognosis of patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction is improved by taking this group of drugs. The administration of beta blockers after the acute event of a heart attack is called secondary prevention.

Secondary means “in second place in an order” and prophylaxis refers to the preventive treatment so that disease does not occur. Since one wants to prevent another heart attack, beta blockers are given as secondary prophylaxis. You can find more information on this topic at: Heart Attack

Treatment of cardiac insufficiency

Heart failure (cardiac insufficiency) represents the inability of the heart to supply the organs of the body with sufficient oxygen. In stable patients, beta-blockers are given to improve the heart’s performance: The drugs protect the heart from the effects of stress-inducing hormones by lowering the heart rate, thus improving the oxygen supply to the heart. The severity of heart failure is divided into four levels.

Patients who also have high blood pressure or have had a heart attack are given a beta blocker in any case. If heart failure alone is the cause, beta blockers are only prescribed from the second stage of severity. Treatment should be started with a low dose of beta-blockers, because in heart failure, as the name suggests, the heart is weakened and the patient may be sensitive to an excessive dose. If the patient tolerates the beta-blocker well, a slow dose increase can be made. You can find more information on this topic at: Heart failure