If you are on a beta blocker, you may notice that it impacts your exercise performance due to its effects on your heart rate. The body interprets exercise as stress. A beta blocker counters these effects on your heart that may affect your weight loss from physical activity. By understanding how beta blockers work, you can find ways to modify your workouts and continue to lose weight.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers are a type of medication often prescribed for high blood pressure and other cardiovascular issues. These drugs act on beta receptors in the body. These are structures that are activated by the release of epinephrine or adrenalin. There are two types of beta receptors, beta-1 receptor and beta-2 receptor. Beta blockers inhibit the effect of epinephrine, thereby keeping your heart rate and blood pressure stable. Beta blockers can act specifically on the heart or in a nonselective fashion on lungs and blood vessels or both.
Stress Response
Epinephrine is a hormone released during stress situations that causes your heart rate to increase to enhance blood flow. When you exercise, your body releases this hormone to improve your athletic performance. If you are exercising to lose weight, beta blockers will likely interfere with your performance and thus, lower your calorie burn for weight loss.
Exercise Intensity and Weight Loss
There are three primary exercise zones, light, moderate and heavy. To lose weight and maximize fat burn, you should exercise within the light to moderate zones, recommends a 2009 study by the University of St Thomas in Minnesota. Knowing which zone you are in is determined by your heart rate. However, when you are on a beta blocker, you may have difficulty reaching the moderate intensity zone simply because the drug is blocking the effects of adrenalin on your heart. If you find that your weight loss has stalled, you will need to use another method of measuring your effort for optimal calorie burn.
Rated Perceived Exertion Scale
Medical science does not have a precise means for measuring the effects of beta blockers on exercise. Rather, you can use your own perception of effort as a means to judge your workouts, recommends MayoClinic.com. The rated perceived exertion scale is your personal rating for your effort using a 1 to 10 scale. One means light effort, with three an indication of moderate effort. To get your weight loss back on track, you will need to exercise at an effort that feels moderate to heavy on your part. You will know that you are working out hard enough to burn calories and fat to aid your weight loss efforts despite the effects of a beta blocker on your heart.
References
- ABC News Health; What Are Beta Blockers, How Do They Work, And How Are Beta Blockers Used In The Treatment Of Anxiety Disorders?; Brian Brennan; April 16, 2008
- "Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems"; L. Sherwood; 2008
- Polar USA: Exercise Zones
- "Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research"; Quantifying Differences in the "Fat Burning" Zone and the Aerobic Zone: Implications for Training; D. Carey; October 2009
- Mayo Clinic: Beta Blockers; How Do They Affect Exercise?; Sheldon G. Sheps; December 18, 2009
- Cleveland Clinic: Rated Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale
