cardiovascular medicines Archives

Adrenergic System Inhibitors features videos that provide a visual approach to alpha and beta blockers in cardiovascular pharmacology.

Cardiovascular pharmacology deals with the study of the effects of drugs upon the heart or circulatory system. Cardiovascular medicines help to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, slow the progression of it as well as treat its symptoms whilst providing a better quality of life and increasing life expectancy.

Types of Cardiovascular Drugs include:

Anti-Hypertensive Drugs
Anti-Angina Drugs
Anti-Arrhythmic Drugs
Anti-Coagulants
Anti-Hyperlipidaemic Drugs

Anti-Hypertensive Drugs are further sub-divided into 4 categories, namely:

Renin-Angiotensin Aldosterone Inhibitors

Adrenergic System Inhibitors

Diuretics

Direct Vasodilators

Below you can find a collection of videos that can help provide a more visual approach to cardiovascular pharmacology, specifically on the Anti-Hypertensive Drugs – Adregenic System Inhibitors.

The Adrenergic System:

The main neurotransmitter of the Adrenergic system is Nonepinephrine. Nonepinephrine acts on all adrenergic receptors to generate a response.

When the sympathetic system is stimulated, there is an increase in heart rate and contractility, and blood vessels constrict. When the sympathetic system is blocked, the heart rate slows down and the blood vessels dilate.

Drugs that STIMULATE the adrenergic system = alpha or beta agonists (sympathomimetics).

Drugs that BLOCK the adrenergic system = alpha or beta blockers (sympatholytics).

Beta Blockers:

Beta Blockers block action of Epinephrine and Nonepinephrine and act as antagonists, blocking beta1 (heart) and beta2 (lungs) adrenergic receptors.

First Generation Nonselective Beta Blockers – Act on B1 (Heart) & B2 (Lungs) eg. Nadolol, Oxprenolol, Penbotalol, Pindolol, Propanolol, Sotalol, Timolol.

Second Generation B1 Selective Beta Blockers – Act on B1 (Heart) eg. Acebutolol, Atenolol, Bisoprolol, Esmolol, Metoprolol. Ideal for asthmatics!

Third Generation Vasodilatory: Nonselective eg. Carteolol, Carvedilol, Labetalol; B1 Selective eg. Betaxolol, Nebivolol.

INDICATIONS: angina, arrhythmias, heart failure, hypertension, MI.
ADVERSE EFFECTS: bradycardia, hypotension, increase in lipidemia, decrease in libido, bronchospasm causing shortness of breath, chronic heart failure due to abnormalities in conductivity, kinks peripheral vessels, exhaustion, emotional depression, masks hyperglycaemia.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: bradycardia, heart block, asthma (do not administer 1st Gen Beta Blockers especially Propanolol), CHF, diabetes, COPD. Avoid concurrent administration of BB with CCBs and Diuretics.
NURSING INTERVENTION: check pulse and do not administer if patient is bradycardic. Be extremely careful with HF patients. Monitor side effects.
PATIENT EDUCATION: advise not to stop medication abruptly. Take with food to reduce or prevent GI disturbances. Whilst body adjusts to medication, side effects such as dizziness, light headedness, drowsiness and blurred vision may occur. Cold extremities may be due to the reduction of blood circulation to the extremities.

Alpha Blockers:

Alpha Blockers eg. Doxasozin, Prasozin.

Alpha 1 causes blood vessels to dilate = reduction in the peripheral resistance = fall in BP = postural hypotension. Decreases contraction force of the heart.

Alpha 2 causes vascular smooth muscles to dilate = decrease in BP.

The Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic Nervous System: Inhibiting and Stimulating Drugs

Beta Blockers

Alpha Blockers

Special thanks to the creators of the featured videos on this post, specifically Youtube Channels Registered Nurse RN and Drugs in Motion.

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Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death both globally and in Malta.

Cardiovascular disease risk factors

Non-Modifiable risk factors: age, gender and family history.

Modifiable risk factors: high cholesterol, high BP, diabetes, smoking, being overweight or obese, living an inactive lifestyle, excessive alcohol and excessive stress.

Cardiovascular diseases can be managed through lifestyle changes, which include incorporating a healthy diet as well as exercise routines, smoking cessation, alcohol reduction or cessation, as well as medication used to prevent and treat CV disease, slow the progression of disease and treat its symptoms, and increase life expectancy whilst improving the patients’ quality of life.

Cardiovascular Diseases:

HEART DISEASE: most usual through atherosclerosis, which is the build up of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls (plaque), which can restrict blood flow. The plaque can burst, triggering a blood clot. Although atherosclerosis is often considered a heart problem, it can affect arteries anywhere in your body.
HEART ATTACK /MI: occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to a part of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may travel into the shoulder, arm, back, neck or jaw.
STROKE: Ischaemic stroke is caused by a blockage in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. The blockage reduces the blood flow and oxygen to the brain, leading to damage or death of brain cells. Haemorrhagic stroke, also known as brain haemorrhage or brain bleed, happens due to bleeding in or around the brain.
HEART FAILURE: also known as congestive heart failure, occurs when the heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as well as it should.
ARRHYTHMIA: a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat where the heart can beat too fast, too slowly, or with an irregular rhythm.
HEART VALVE ISSUES: issues include regurgitation, stenosis, and atresia.

Below you can find a collection of videos that can help provide a more visual approach to cardiovascular disease.

Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Disease

Ischaemic Stroke Animation

Haemorrhagic Stroke Animation

Congestive Heart Failure

Cardiac Arrhythmias

Hypertension Overview, Symptoms and Risk Factors

More information about anti-hypertensives can be found here…

Special thanks to the creators of the featured videos on this post, specifically Youtube Channels Biolution, Cook Children’s Health Care System, Scientific Animations, Bupa Health UK, and Registered Nurse RN.