ELI5, What’s the difference between an alpha blocker and a beta blocker?
In: Biology
Alpha blockers decrease the constriction of blood vessels (allowing more flow)
Beta blockers slow heart rate
Both actions have the effect of reducing blood pressure, but the different classes use different mechanisms
There are different receptors on our cells that are able to recognize a molecule of adrenaline or noradrenaline, depending on the type of receptor there is going to be a “message” sent into the cell, Alpha-1 which are on the surface of the muscle surrounding our vessels are receptors that send a message that says “Constrict”; Beta-1 receptors are expressed on the heart and they send the message “Beat faster and harder”.
If your blood vessels contract then there will be more resistance to the flow of blood throughout your body, we give a-1 blockers to hypertense patients because it helps reduce said resistance and allows better blood flow.
If your heart is working harder and faster then it’s going to pump the blood with more force into the system, which is going to cause a lot of tension within the walls of the vessels because of the high pressures created by the harder-working heart.
B-1 blockers are given as well to reduce blood pressure and can also be given for certain arrhythmias (because adrenaline can change the heart rate by sending the message “best faster”)
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