Beta blockers: Who benefits from these common drugs?
Beta blockers, which slow down the heart and lower blood pressure, might not always be helpful after a heart attack.
- Reviewed by Cian McCarthy, MB, BCh, BAO, SM, Contributor
For more than half a century, drugs known as beta blockers have been a mainstay for managing heart disease, especially for heart attack survivors. But doctors are now reconsidering that strategy, based on growing evidence showing that for some people who have had a heart attack, beta blockers might not offer any meaningful benefit. “For people whose hearts still pump normally after a heart attack, doctors may now think twice about prescribing a beta blocker,” says Dr. Cian McCarthy, a cardiologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Cian McCarthy, MB, BCh, BAO, SM, Contributor
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