Which statement about beta blockers and bradycardia is true?

Which statement about beta blockers and bradycardia is true?

• A. Beta blockers can cause bradycardia
• B. They never affect heart rate
• C. They cause tachycardia
• D. They only affect blood sugar

Answer: (A)

Beta blockers slow the heart by blocking beta-adrenergic receptors in the heart, especially beta-1 receptors in the SA node. This reduces automaticity and slows AV nodal conduction, which lowers the resting heart rate. Because of this mechanism, bradycardia is a known and expected effect in some patients taking these drugs. The statement that beta blockers can cause bradycardia is therefore true. They don’t have no effect on heart rate; they often decrease it. They don’t typically cause tachycardia; they blunt or prevent rapid heart rates. And while they can influence glucose metabolism in some patients, they are not limited to affecting blood sugar alone.

Beta blockers slow the heart by blocking beta-adrenergic receptors in the heart, especially beta-1 receptors in the SA node. This reduces automaticity and slows AV nodal conduction, which lowers the resting heart rate. Because of this mechanism, bradycardia is a known and expected effect in some patients taking these drugs. The statement that beta blockers can cause bradycardia is therefore true.

They don’t have no effect on heart rate; they often decrease it. They don’t typically cause tachycardia; they blunt or prevent rapid heart rates. And while they can influence glucose metabolism in some patients, they are not limited to affecting blood sugar alone.