Beta blockers in the treatment of heart failure in the patients with co-morbidities and adverse effects limiting their use
Abstract
Beta blockers have been an important drug for many clinical situations and diseases for many years. Counteracting excessive stimulation of β-adrenoreceptors leads especially to the heart rate slowing, decrease in metabolic demands of the myocardium, improvement of left ventricle filling, as well as improvement in the subendocardial blood flow.
Ultimately, despite its negative inotropic effect, beta blockers have a positive effect in the treatment of chronic and often acute heart failure. However, in a number of situations beta blockers administration is feared or considered contraindicated, such as decompensated heart failure, tachyarrhythmia induced hypotension, bronchial disease at risk of bronchospasticity or brady-tachyarrhythmia syndrome.
Still, they can be very beneficial in these situations.