How do adrenergic blockers work?

Have you ever wondered how adrenergic blockers work? Well, look no further because we are going to dive deep into the topic and explain everything in an amusing way.

What Are Adrenergic Blockers?

Adrenergic blockers are a category of drugs that block the activity of noradrenaline and adrenaline, which are neurotransmitters responsible for our body’s “fight or flight” response. These drugs act by binding to specific receptors called alpha and beta-adrenoceptors.

The Alpha and Beta Receptors

The alpha-receptors (α1, α2) found mainly on arteries squeeze them down causing blood vessels to constrict. As for beta-receptors (ß1 β2 ß3), they relax smooth muscle cells and increase heart rate secretion amongst other things. But let’s not get too scientific… yet!

Fight or Flight Response

Before we proceed with more details about adrenaline blockers – let us take a moment to discuss this phenomenon – “the fight or flight response”.

Picture yourself strolling along until suddenly you stumble upon two lions feasting on their prey; it is at this point your brain sends signals alerting you that ‘danger’ is ahead! This sympathetic nervous system response now prepares your body either to fight off these beasts or flee at high speed- hence its name also includes ‘flight’. At times when there’s nothing really threatening around but stress can trigger this reaction too i.e sudden presentation anxiety/presentation fear etc.

It all starts(very scientific term!) when adrenaline/epinephrine/noradrenalin plays up in stressful scenarios. Both these hormones will activate adrenoreceptor sites located across different parts of the nervous system.

  • Heart: making it race like Hamilton behind Verstappen
  • Lungs: increases ventilation leading to more oxygen intake
  • Blood vessels: Who does not love/like blood vessels? But at times the alpha and beta receptors will produce an upward or downward effect for these.
  • Blood pressure: can rise
  • Pupils of our eyes dilate(adrenaline).

If you ever recall having sweaty palms, chills down your spine, a massive headache that comes along with voice shaking and racing heartbeat pre-interview/presentation- Congratulations! You just ran an unofficial marathon.

So what do Adrenergic Blockers Do?

As we mentioned earlier, Adrenergic blockers work by blocking noradrenaline and adrenaline from binding to the corresponding receptors. In layman’s terms they hold up traffic control, thus lowering the “fight or flight” response triggered in stressful situations.

Think of it as a state regulation that mandates ‘you cannot exceed more than 55mph’. Similarly, adrenergic blockers mandate (yes mandate!) ‘no extreme body responses’ to any situation!

There are two ways this can happen:

Alpha-blockers

This category side-swipesalpha-receptors, leading to their paradoxical dilation. This consequently has several effects such as:

  • Relaxation of muscle fibers in larger blood-vessels helping maintain normal blood flow levels
  • Reduction in tear secretion. On rare occasions when patients have hypertension which affects the eyes(i.e glaucoma), optometrists may prescribe alpha-blocker drugs rather than resorting to surgical interventions.

Who knew high BP could be discovered all types of ways huh?

Beta-blockers

Onwards now!(happy tears) Let us talk about another critical category called Beta-Blockers. These guys prevent adrenaline/noradrenalin from accessing ß-adrenoceptor sites located throughout our nervous system hence keeping the heart rate under check. As you know ‘speed kills’. Stress/all those negative emotions put extra pressure on our heart which can degenerate into various health issues.

Let us go over how the ß-blockers impact our body:

  • Make the heart rate slow down – this provides extra time for filling up blood to be pumped through arteries
  • Sub-due coronal pressure
  • Lower anxiety levels and calm symptoms like tremors.

It is essential to know that before taking beta-blockers, it would not hurt to take advice from your GP since some medications may need adjustment too.

Side effects

Just as with any medications, side effects are likely when an individual takes adrenergic blockers. Before diving into these; a disclaimer: Do not let them scare you away but rather add some humor into it(I promise we tried).

Some nit-picky adverse reactions include :

  • Blurred vision (see clearly now eventually) especially in patients who have past eye disorders.
  • Bloody stool (still feel brave?)
  • Low libido or loss of sexual appetite(bring back desire)
  • Depression/ drowsiness(the world’s way telling you’ ‘time out needed’)

However, overdosing on medication could trigger severe poisoning which requires emergency medical care ASAP! Symptoms include:

  • Overwhelming hallucinations and delirium(high doses of alpha blockers).
  • Severe heart failure(low Beta blocker dosage): remember they reduce beats per minute?

Although serious overdose cases occur less frequently than other more common allergies/reactions here’s hoping no reader has to undergo such!

Conclusion

Now all those people curious about either finding ways to lower their anxiety levels or reduce hypertension should hopefully get their questions addressed regarding Adrenergic Blockers! In summary : They work( Ahh Science!) by blocking emergency response signals triggered during stressful events thus keeping vital organs balanced/performing optimally. It’s imperative users do research/get professional medical opinions before subscribing(advice applies particularly if several bottled medicines prescribed).

May your heart beat healthy and anxiety-free life be balanced always!

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