Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heartbeat, or arrhythmia, that is characterized by the rapid beating of the upper two chambers of the heart, or the atria. Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and can lead to heart failure, heart...
A hypertensive emergency is any condition in which the patient is suffering from a significant increase in blood pressure that can be life-threatening if not treated. Any patient who develops a blood pressure greater than 180 mmHg systolic or 110...
Beta-blockers, or beta-adrenergic blockers, are a class of drugs that are used to treat a variety of conditions, including high blood pressure, glaucoma and migraines. There are several types of beta-blockers -- some affect the heart, while others...
Whether you know them as beta blockers or beta-adrenergic blocking agents, this class of drugs is used to treat conditions ranging from high blood pressure to glaucoma. According to the Mayo Clinic, some beta blockers have a larger effect on the...
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm in which the heart quivers instead of beating regularly. This occurs because the command center of the heart fails to coordinate activity with the pumping center. People may thus experience...
Beta-blockers are a class of drugs used to treat hypertension and heart disease. They also may be used to treat hyperthyroidism, anxiety, glaucoma and migraines. Propanolol, metaprolol, labetalol, carvedilol, acebutolol, betaxolol, esmolol,...
The use of prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs to treat all types of disease processes is on the rise. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports an increase in the spending for prescription drugs in the United States from about $40...
Heart palpitations occur when the normal rhythm of the heart becomes abnormal. Normally, the top two chambers of the heart, called the atria, deliver blood to the bottom two chambers of the heart, called the ventricles, which pump the blood out to...
Heart rate is controlled by electrical impulses that travel through contractile heart muscle and when there is a defect in the heart tissue, contractions can greatly increase. According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthy adult heart beats between 60...
Beta-blockers, also known as beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, are medications used to treat high blood pressure, angina and irregular heart beat. They are also used in eye drops to treat glaucoma. Beta-blockers act by tamping down the adrenergic...
Heart failure is a chronic progressive condition where the heart is no longer able to keep up with the demands of pumping adequate amounts of blood. As a result, the heart is unable to maintain vital supplies of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues...
The supplement 5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, is an alternative treatment used for several conditions, include fibromyalgia and depression. Manufacturers obtain 5-HTP from the seeds of the Griffonia simplicifolia plant. While 5-HTP may help reduce...
Therapeutic drugs are an effective tool in the treatment of many illness and conditions. While medical professional prescribe therapeutic drugs to alleviate or control disease, side effects may lead to new symptoms. Several commonly prescribed...
Beta blockers are a class of medications used to treat conditions that include heartbeat abnormalities, heart failure, chest pain and high blood pressure, states MayoClinic.com. When you take beta blockers, they slow your heart rate, and this...
Blood pressure medications work to reduce the workload on the heart so it doesn't have to pump as hard to deliver oxygenated blood to the tissues of the body. These medications can be effective in reducing blood pressure levels so that the risk...
Untreated high blood pressure (pressure within the arteries) leads to major organ damage. According to the American Heart Association, possible complications of high blood pressure (HBP) include heart disease, such as angina, heart attacks and...
