Beta blockers are drugs that are used to block the norepinephrine as well as the epinephrine or adrenaline from becoming clotted in beta receptors or the nerves. Such effects could be highly dangerous for a person, especially one who is ailing.

Types of Beta Receptors

Three types of beta receptors are there controlling multiple functions in the anatomy depending on their respective locations in the body. These are –

•  Beta 1 or the B1 receptors that are located in heart, kidneys, and eyes;

•  Beta 2 or the B2 receptors that are located in lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract, liver, uterus, skeletal muscles, and blood vessels;

•  Beta 3 or B3 receptors that is located in fat cells.

Functions of Beta Blockers

Usually the beta blockers block the B1 and B2 receptors. In result the effects of norepinephrine as well as epinephrine are that they reduce the heart rates, blood pressure, dilate blood vessels and constrict air passages. Air passages are constricted by stimulating the muscles that are located around the air passage.

Beta Blockers Uses

Beta blockers are used for treatment of abnormal heart rhythm, high blood pressure, heart failure, tremor, pheochromocytoma and also for prevention of migraines.

Other Benefits of Beta Blockers

Beta blockers have proved to be prevention of heart attacks as well as death due to heart attack. While some of them are used for the treatment of hyperthyroidism, and akathisia, others are used for treatment of anxiety, aqueous humor in the eyes and glaucoma.

Different Beta Blockers block Different Beta Receptors

Usually the beta blockers differ according to the types of beta receptors they block. Thus the effects of these blockers are as follows; -

•  Non selective beta blockers those block the B1 and B2 receptors, are called propranolol or Inderal that can affect heart, blood vessels as well as air passages;

•  Selective blockers or metoprolol like the lopressor or Toporol XL block the B1 receptors and affect the heart only without affecting air passages.

•  Some of the beta blockers like the pindolol create intrinsic sympathetic activities that mimic effects of epinephrine as well as norepinephrine. In result these effects can cause increase in blood pressure as well as heart rates.

•  Beta blockers that have ISA create smaller effects on heart rates than the agents that do not have ISA.

•  Labetalol and Carvedilol block both betas as well as alpha-1 receptors.