Beta Blocker News and Research

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Beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents (beta-blockers) are drugs with multiple actions on the heart. Blockade of beta-1 receptors results in slowing of heart rate, reduction in myocardial contractility, and lowering of systemic blood pressure. In the context of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which represents a state of reduced oxygen supply to the affected portion of the heart, these effects may be beneficial as they result in reduced myocardial workload and oxygen demand. Furthermore, beta-blockers may reduce the risk of ventricular arrhythmias, which are an important cause of death following AMI.

Atenolol beta-blocker may not be effective in reducing heart attacks

A study published in this weeks issue of THE LANCET suggest that atenolol - one of the most widely prescribed beta-blockers for reducing blood pressure - may not be effective in reducing heart attacks or death from cardiovascular causes.

5 Nov 2004

Noncardiac surgery risky for older heart failure patients

When heart failure patients undergo surgery for other health problems, they are much more likely to die or suffer complications than similar patients who have coronary artery disease

6 Oct 2004

High blood pressure can effect many life activities, including sex

Despite its seeming invisibility, high blood pressure is dangerous, even deadly. Its effects can linger throughout many life activities, including sex.

29 Sep 2004

Studies confirm that chronic kidney disease independently increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease

A pair of new epidemiology studies confirms that chronic kidney disease independently increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, even among people with early kidney disease and after considering other risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.

29 Sep 2004

Celacade shown to reduce risk of death and hospitalization in patients with advanced chronic heart failure

Vasogen has announced that comprehensive results from the Company's phase II trial of Celacade (immune modulation therapy) in advanced chronic heart failure patients were published in the September 15 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).

16 Sep 2004

$Beta-blockers associated with decreased risk for fractures$

Beta-blockers associated with decreased risk for fractures

Patients who take beta-blocker medications appear to have a reduced risk for bone fractures, according to a study in the September 15 issue of JAMA.

10 Sep 2004

Ramipril reduces rate of sudden cardiac death and nonfatal cardiac arrest by 21 percent

Ramipril, a high blood pressure and heart failure drug, can reduce the rate of sudden cardiac death and nonfatal cardiac arrest by 21 percent in people at high risk for heart attack or stroke, according to a study reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

7 Sep 2004

The proper use of drugs to treat heart disease reduces the need for hospital interventions

Regular attacks of chest pain induced by exercise (angina pectoris) is a common condition caused by blockages of the blood vessels that supply the heart (coronary heart disease).

29 Aug 2004

No benefit from early PCI/CABG in high risk unstable angina patients

Patients with chest pain are recognized as being at high risk of subsequent adverse cardiac events when their plasma levels of cardiac troponin are elevated as evidence of myocardial damage.

29 Aug 2004

Atrial fibrillation patients often receive needless treatment

Results of the Euro Heart Survey on atrial fibrillation (AF), demonstrate that many AF patients receive clot-preventing drugs while not at risk for stroke.

29 Aug 2004

New class of compounds play a role in protecting the cardiovascular system

Half a million Americans are diagnosed each year with heart failure, a progressively debilitating condition characterized by the heart's declining ability to pump blood efficiently.

25 Aug 2004

Nitroxyl-releasing drugs promise to revive failing hearts

Half a million Americans are diagnosed each year with heart failure, a progressively debilitating condition characterized by the heart's declining ability to pump blood efficiently.

22 Aug 2004

Successful resuscitation rates doubled after upgrade to automated external defibrillators

Successful resuscitation rates more than doubled after the Atlanta VA Medical Center instituted a program of upgrading existing defibrillators and placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) throughout the hospital, while also educating staff, according to a new study in the Aug. 18, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

18 Aug 2004

New guidelines urge early and long-term treatment with Aldosterone blockade therapy

Patients who have had a recent heart attack with ST-elevation (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, or STEMI), complicated by heart failure should be treated with aldosterone blockers according to new guidelines issued recently by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA).

17 Aug 2004

Painless heart attacks often result in greater fatality rates than painful episodes

Painless heart attacks or heart conditions can be commonly overlooked and undertreated at the hospital, often resulting in greater fatality rates than painful episodes.

9 Aug 2004

Reminder letters to physicians caring for heart attack patients saved lives and cut costs

Simply sending reminder letters to physicians caring for heart attack patients saved lives and cut costs by increasing use of a recommended but underused drug, according to a new study.

6 Aug 2004

Anti-hypertensive drug clonidine before non-cardiac surgery reduces risk of complications due to inadequate blood flow to the heart

Patients with or at risk for heart disease who take the anti-hypertensive drug clonidine before non-cardiac surgery can significantly reduce the risk of complications and death due to inadequate blood flow to the heart, according to a study by UCSF researchers at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

29 Jul 2004

Findings alleviate concerns of physicians reluctant to prescribe beta-blockers because of cardiovascular adverse effects

Beta-blocker therapy in patients with heart failure is well tolerated and associated with fewer overall withdrawals and less heart failure deterioration than placebo, according to a new article in the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

13 Jul 2004

New guidelines for treating heart attacks

If your chest pain worsens and lasts more than five minutes, especially if you’re short of breath, feel weak, nauseated or lightheaded, call 9-1-1—you could be having a heart attack.

8 Jul 2004

Regular use of beta-agonist drugs for asthma could be endangering their patients

Physicians who prescribe the regular use of beta-agonist drugs for asthma could be endangering their patients, two new studies by researchers at Cornell and Stanford universities find.

17 Jun 2004

Beta Blocker News and Research

Further Reading

Atenolol beta-blocker may not be effective in reducing heart attacks

Noncardiac surgery risky for older heart failure patients

High blood pressure can effect many life activities, including sex

Studies confirm that chronic kidney disease independently increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease

Celacade shown to reduce risk of death and hospitalization in patients with advanced chronic heart failure

Beta-blockers associated with decreased risk for fractures

Ramipril reduces rate of sudden cardiac death and nonfatal cardiac arrest by 21 percent

The proper use of drugs to treat heart disease reduces the need for hospital interventions

No benefit from early PCI/CABG in high risk unstable angina patients

Atrial fibrillation patients often receive needless treatment

New class of compounds play a role in protecting the cardiovascular system

Nitroxyl-releasing drugs promise to revive failing hearts

Successful resuscitation rates doubled after upgrade to automated external defibrillators

New guidelines urge early and long-term treatment with Aldosterone blockade therapy

Painless heart attacks often result in greater fatality rates than painful episodes

Reminder letters to physicians caring for heart attack patients saved lives and cut costs

Anti-hypertensive drug clonidine before non-cardiac surgery reduces risk of complications due to inadequate blood flow to the heart

Findings alleviate concerns of physicians reluctant to prescribe beta-blockers because of cardiovascular adverse effects

New guidelines for treating heart attacks

Regular use of beta-agonist drugs for asthma could be endangering their patients

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