Beta-blockers - this is one of the most effective groups of drugs for the treatment of heart failure.

In our article, experts from the Cleveland Clinic (US) will try to answer the common question of patients, why do doctors prescribe beta-blockers and what is their role in treating this disease.

So, the probability that a cardiologist will assign beta-blockers increases if you have had a myocardial infarction in the past or if there is hypertension, tachycardia, systolic heart failure (the heart does not shrink sufficiently).

In a simple way, beta-blockers can slow down the heartbeat and protect the heart from overloading. They limit the effect of stress hormones such as adrenaline on your heart muscle. Over time, these drugs will help the heart to pump blood better.

Beta blockers are important, even if you do not think so.

When you start treatment with beta-blockers, the symptoms of heart failure in the first 2-3 weeks may slightly worsen, but then the heart will "get used" to the drug. You may feel more tired and weak than usual - this is normal. But do not forget to control your pressure and pulse so that they do not fall too low.

Remember: the correct reception of beta-blockers is vitally important. Even if it seems to you that they do not work and you do not feel better, you can not stop taking them without the doctor's permission! They work, and in this you better agree with a specialist.

Ignore reception of beta-blockers is not safe.

In the treatment of beta-blockers, especially with prolonged treatment, it is critically important not to miss the dose. Studies have shown that sudden discontinuation of reception causes very unpleasant phenomena and can cause sudden cardiac death.

Therefore, never skip the reception and do not stop using beta blockers without consulting your doctor, even if the drugs cause you any of the following side effects:.

•Dizziness.

• Fatigue.

•Headache.

• Change in heart rate.

• Cold hands and feet.

• Nightmares and insomnia.

• Nausea, heartburn, bloating.

• Diarrhea or constipation.

• Sudden weight gain.

• Shortness of breath.

•Skin rash.

• Swelling of the feet.

• Chest pain In the latter case, you should immediately contact your doctor!.

If any of these side effects are severe or worsening, talk with your doctor about what you can do. In some cases, the problem can be solved by reducing the dose of the beta-blocker, adding other drugs or substituting for an alternative drug from the same group.

All this should be decided only by your doctor. No advice from friends and no initiative!.

Reason number 1, according to which people give up taking beta-blockers.

"The leading reason why our patients stop taking beta-blockers is hospitalization. For various reasons, not necessarily because of heart failure. But most of them should not stop treatment even in this case. Only if the doctor decides that there are more harms in your situation from beta-blockers than benefits, "says Dr. Wilson Tang, lead cardiologist at the Kaufmann Center for Heart Failure at the Cleveland Clinic, director of the Center for Clinical Genomics.

Studies show that continued use of beta-blockers is appropriate and justified for the vast majority of patients, even in the case of hospitalization with acute heart failure.

"The inability to tolerate beta-blockers indicates a worsening of heart disease. To determine that your heart is too weak for beta-blockers, use special tests that are conducted in our clinic, "explains Dr. Tang.

Return to beta blockers is not an easy task.

If you for any reason stopped taking these medications, tell your doctor right away. Returning to taking beta-blockers is a complex process. To correctly return to treatment, you will need to strictly follow the doctor's instructions.

"How many milligrams and how quickly to increase the dose will depend on your condition. It may take time to return to the usual treatment and continue to support the adequate work of your heart, "- warns Dr. Tang.

The best advice for patients? Always and everywhere carry a supply of medicine. Situations when your package was out of time or you forgot to take the pill, can significantly complicate the treatment and pose a real threat to you.

medbe. en.