Beta-blockers block the release of the chemical noradrenaline in certain parts of the body.
Heart problems
Beta-blockers take some of the workload off the heart. This means that the heart does not have to work so hard at pumping blood around the body.
This medicine is especially important for people with angina or heart failure, or for those who have had a heart attack. It helps prevent attacks of angina and reduce your risk of having a further heart attack if you have already had one.
Beta-blockers control irregular heartbeats by blocking the electrical nerve impulses that stimulate the heart. This decreases the activity of the heart and can slow the heart rate.
High blood pressure
In the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure), beta-blockers reduce blood pressure by slowing the heart rate and pumping force of the heart.
Glaucoma
Beta-blocker eye drops can be used for glaucoma. They relieve the pressure inside the eyeball by reducing the production of aqueous humour (fluid inside the eyeball).
