beta-blockers

(noun)

Also called beta-adrenergic blocking agents, beta-adrenergic antagonists, beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists, or beta antagonists, these are a class of drugs used for various indications. As beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists, they diminish the effects of epinephrine (adrenaline) and other stress hormones.

Related Terms

  • atropine
  • acetylcholinesterase

Examples of beta-blockers in the following topics:

  • Agonists, Antagonists, and Drugs

    • Beta blockers (sometimes written as β-blockers) or beta-adrenergic blocking agents, beta-adrenergic antagonists, beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists, or beta antagonists, are a class of drugs used for various indications.
    • As beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists, they diminish the effects of epinephrine (adrenaline) and other stress hormones.
    • Beta blockers block the action of endogenous catecholamines—epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) in particular—on β-adrenergic receptors, part of the sympathetic nervous system that mediates the fight-or-flight response.
  • Signs and Symptoms of Shock

    • While a fast heart rate is common, those on beta blockers and those who are athletic may have a normal or slow heart rate.
  • Raynaud's Phenomenon

    • Drugs which may cause secondary Raynaud's include beta-blockers, chemotherapeutics, and anthrax vaccines.
    • Raynaud's can also be treated with medications that prevent vasoconstriction, such as calcium channel blockers.
  • Asthma

    • Treatment of acute symptoms is usually with an inhaled short-acting beta-2 agonist (such as salbutamol).
    • The most common triggers include allergens, smoke (tobacco and other), air pollution, non selective beta-blockers, and sulfite-containing foods.
  • Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

    • Other commonly used medications include beta blockers and benzodiazepines.
  • Thyroid Gland Disorders

    • In the case of Graves' disease, beta blockers are used to decrease symptoms of hyperthyroidism and anti-thyroid drugs are used to decrease the production of thyroid hormones.
  • Marfan Syndrome

    • Beta blockers have been used to control arrhythmias and slow the heart rate.
  • Beta Decay

    • Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted from an atomic nucleus.
    • There are two types of beta decay.
    • Beta minus (β) leads to an electron emission (e−); beta plus (β+) leads to a positron emission (e+).
    • Beta decay is mediated by the weak force.
    • The continuous energy spectra of beta particles occur because Q is shared between a beta particle and a neutrino.
  • The Fields

    • $\displaystyle \beta \equiv \frac{\bf u}{c},~\text{so}~ \kappa = 1 - {\bf n} \cdot \beta$
    • $\displaystyle {\bf E}(r,t) = \kern-2mm q \left [ \frac{({\bf n} - \beta)(1-\beta^2)}{\kappa^3 R^2} \right ]_\mathrm{ret}\!
    • \frac{q}{c} \left [ \frac{\bf n}{\kappa^3 R} \times \left [ ({\bf n} - \beta ) \times \dot{\beta} \right ]\right ]_\mathrm{ret} \\ {\bf B}(r,t) = \kern-2mm\left [ {\bf n} \times {\bf E}(r,t) \right ]_\mathrm{ret}.$
    • $\displaystyle {\bf E}_{rad}(r,t) = + \frac{q}{c} \left [ \frac{\bf n}{\kappa^3 R} \times \left [ ({\bf n} - \beta ) \times \dot{\beta} \right ]\right ] \\ {\bf B}_{rad}(r,t) = \left [ {\bf n} \times {\bf E}_{rad}(r,t) \right ].$
    • $\displaystyle {\bf S} = {\bf n} \frac{q^2}{4\pi c \kappa^6 R^2} \left | {\bf n} \times \left \{ \left ( {\bf n} - \beta \right ) \times {\dot{\beta}} \right \} \right |^2$
  • Angle Addition and Subtraction Formulae

    • $\begin{aligned} \cos(\alpha + \beta) &= \cos \alpha \cos \beta - \sin \alpha \sin \beta \\ \cos(\alpha - \beta) &= \cos \alpha \cos \beta + \sin \alpha \sin \beta \end{aligned}$
    • $\begin{aligned} \sin(\alpha + \beta) &= \sin \alpha \cos \beta + \cos \alpha \sin \beta \\ \sin(\alpha - \beta) &= \sin \alpha \cos \beta - \cos \alpha \sin \beta \end{aligned}$
    • $\displaystyle{ \begin{aligned} \tan(\alpha + \beta) &= \frac{ \tan \alpha + \tan \beta}{1 - \tan \alpha \tan \beta} \\ \tan(\alpha - \beta) &= \frac{ \tan \alpha - \tan \beta}{1 + \tan \alpha \tan \beta} \end{aligned} }$
    • Apply the formula $\cos(\alpha - \beta) = \cos \alpha \cos \beta + \sin \alpha \sin \beta$:
    • We can thus apply the formula for sine of the difference of two angles: $\sin(\alpha - \beta) = \sin \alpha \cos \beta - \cos \alpha \sin \beta$.
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