A beta-blocker is a form of heart medicine that is designed to relax the arteries in the heart. This medicine also reduces blood pressure because most beta blockers reduce heart rate. The effect of daily beta blockers and heart rate is significant and often causes people to feel tired with normal physical activity.
High blood pressure is often termed a silent killer because it is hard to detect until a person has a heart attack. Beta blockers make the heart beat slower by blocking the release of adrenaline into the blood stream. Some beta blockers also dilate blood vessels and constrict air passages, which makes the arteries flow more efficiently. This can help people who suffer from angina because the arteries are wider. They are also used as a form of blood pressure medicine that relaxes the arteries.
People that take beta blockers often complain of dizziness and fatigue due to the reduced heart rate. This medicine can also slow down normal breathing patterns, which can make a person with asthma have wheezing spells. It is also important to monitor the body when starting beta blockers to ensure they don't cause any negative side effects.
The way relationship between beta blockers and heart rate makes it difficult to exercise, since the beta blockers keep the heart beating slower regardless of physical activity. Resting heart rate is the rate a heart beats with no physical activity. A person in good health typically has a resting heart rate between 60 to 80 beats per minute. The link between beta blockers and heart rate can impact a person's ability to do normal activities, without feeling tired. This may make a person feel exhausted when doing simple tasks including walking.
A person diagnosed with an exercise-induced irregular heartbeat is often prescribed beta blockers. This medicine is a good option for people who have this rare condition because it keeps the heart beating slower when a person exercises. This will also reduce the maximum heart rate a person can reach while doing cardio exercise.
The side effects of beta blockers and heart rate are more common for people who have normal heart rates. In rare cases this drug can cause extremely low heart rates, which can lead to hypotension. Beta blockers should not be used if a person has low blood pressure or a serious lung infection because this drug will cause the heart to beat slower and can cause a life threatening situation.