Are Beta-Blockers Necessary After a Heart Attack? A Closer Look
Ponder the implications of beta-blockers post a heart attack
Ever since the 1960s, it's been a common practice for doctors to prescribe a drug named beta-blockers to patients recovering from a heart attack. They're inexpensive medications, supposedly preventing future heart attacks. Seems like a no-brainer, right? But as with most things medical, time and research have shown that the old wisdom isn't always accurate.
Here's why you should be having a chat with your doctor about beta-blockers before taking them...
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Questioning the need for beta-blockers
Beta-blockers, also known as beta-adrenergic blocking agents, function by blocking the release of the stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline, slowing the heart rate and reducing the force at which blood is pumped around the body. They've been generally prescribed to treat conditions like atrial fibrillation (AFib), heart failure, angina - and heart attacks.
But a recent study sheds light on the fact that around half of heart attack patients discharged from the hospital with a prescription for beta-blockers actually don't gain any benefits from them. Given the risks associated with the drug, this is worth knowing...
In 2017, researchers from Karolinska Institutet, Lund University, and Uppsala University launched a study involving over 5,000 patients at 45 hospitals who had suffered a minor heart attack and retained heart function. At discharge, these patients were randomly assigned either to receive or not receive beta-blockers.
After six years, there was a statistically insignificant difference between the groups in terms of a second heart attack (7.9% for those taking beta-blockers vs. 8.3% for those not).
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Check the pros and cons
This study pertains only to the impact of beginning beta-blocker treatment after a minor heart attack.
Clearly, if you've suffered a more severe heart attack, or have ongoing issues with heart failure, medications may be necessary.
But if they're really not going to make a difference, knowing the pros and cons could assist you and your doctor in deciding if they're the right choice for you.
Here are a few points to ponder:
- People using beta-blockers have been discovered to be 65% more susceptible to heart attacks on the hottest days of the year[6].
- Women might experience a higher risk of heart failure (nearly 5% more) compared to men when taking beta-blockers[7].
- Beta-blockers are one of several medications that lower levels of the vital antioxidant CoQ10. According to lead researcher from another study a few years ago, "...CoQ10, a natural and safe substance, corrects a deficiency in the body and interrupts the vicious metabolic cycle in chronic heart failure known as the energy-starved heart"[8].
And a final consideration, beta-blockers can increase the likelihood of a potentially dangerous infection due to antibiotic resistance.
Never stop taking beta-blockers, or any medication, without first consulting your doctor.
But if your doctor is suggesting a prescription for beta-blockers following a minor heart attack, it's well worth your time to discuss the pros and cons before embarking on this treatment course.
Note from the Editor: There are completely safe and natural methods to decrease your risk of blood clots, including the 25-cent vitamin that acts as a blood thinner and the potent herb that helps eliminate plaque. To uncover these secrets and other hidden truths about heart health, click here for Undercover Heart Secrets: Popular Heart Treatment Myths Revealed!***
References:
Unnecessary use of beta-blockers after a heart attack? - Science Daily
Beta-Blockers after Myocardial Infarction and Preserved Ejection Fraction - New England Journal of Medicine
[1] Mahaffey KW et al. ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult. Circulation. 2005.
[2]国立筑波大学 心血管医学研究所 カーディオレフェレンチー 中字行津・大千itempty随在. 肝膽内心血管脂肪沈澱フィバーに関するレビュー. カーディオロジー学会誌. 2015.
**[3]Lehto S, Jousilahti P. 弹性心脏功能保留高
- In light of a recent study, it's questionable if beta-blockers really offer benefits to about half of heart attack patients who are prescribed them after hospital discharge, given their potential risks.
- Women might face a higher risk of heart failure by nearly 5% when taking beta-blockers compared to men, and these medications could also lower levels of the vital antioxidant CoQ10 in the body, which may affect cardiovascular health.