What does a calcium channel blocker do?

Have you ever wondered what calcium channel blockers are and what they do? No, just me then. Well, let me tell you – these things are fascinating! In this article, we will take a deep dive into the world of calcium channel blockers and their role in our bodies.

Introduction

Firstly, let’s get one thing straight. Calcium isn’t just used for building strong bones; it’s also essential for many physiological functions including muscle contractions and nerve impulses. However, too much calcium can be a bad thing (just like too much anything). So how does our body keep that balance? That’s where calcium channel blockers come in.

The Lowdown on Calcium Channels

Before we understand what calcium channels do, we need to know how they work! A quick biology refresher – cells contain an abundance of ions called cations including positive sodium (Na+) and negative chloride (Cl-) ions. Inside the cell is usually negatively charged while outside is positively charged.

To maintain this difference in charge across the membrane barrier there is an active transport system called ion pumps that pump out positive Na+ ions from inside to outside at the expense of energy or ATP molecules produced by mitochondria- cellular powerhouse/organelle.
This pumping action creates two gradients: firstly a gradient of higher concentration on one side of the membrane than another resulting from unequal movement due to either passive diffusion or facilitated transit through specialized transport passages/channels/holes gated via voltage change/ligand interaction/mechanically-sensitive regulation/membrane stretch etc.–for sodium given above instance Sodium-Potassium Pumping System maintaining 3 Na+ out:2K+in ratio –and secondly electrical potential difference known as Membrane Potential .

Now onto these exciting calcium channels. They are pores found on cells and organelles membranes explored since 1970s using novel electrophysiological techniques. There are various types of channels present with different subunits, characteristics and functions. Most important ones include:

  • Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs): Responding to cells electrically charged membrane potential changes.

  • Ligand-gated ion channels: Calcium permeable ionothropic receptors opening/closing due to extracellular ligand binding–examples are NMDA/Kainate/AMPA Glutamate Receptors.

### Types of VGCCs

Before we go further into what these blockers do, let’s take a closer look at the different types of VGCCs.

|   Type           |Location       |
|------------------|---------------|
| L-type VGCC      |Heart, brain   |
| T-type VGCC     |Brain          |
| P/Q type VGCC     |Brain          |

These guys differ in their voltage-sensitivity and location!

How Do Calcium Channel Blockers Work?

So why do we need these calcium channel blockers? Well, too much calcium can cause problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease! That’s where calcium channel blockers(CCB)s come in – they work by blocking entry through these voltage-gated or non-VGCC pores given below by applying competitive antagonist action on corresponding site thus preventing higher Ca+ concentration formation inside cell/cell organelle/microenvironment out ->thus avoiding deleterious cellular toxicity arising from Ca2+ entering unregulatedly via other functional role like exocytosis/synaptogenesis/secretion etc..

Note that [non-dihydropyridine] verapamil/diltiazem-like CCB selectively block cardiac tissue predominant ‘long-lasting’ LHVD1.x(VGCC) responsible for slow inward depolarizing current[I(Ca,L)]->thus beneficially reducing force generation/heart rate/electrical conduction velocity etc while [dihydropyridine] Amlodipine-like CCB block vascular smooth muscle-specific L-HVD3.x mainly responsible for blood vessel contraction/dilation->preferential relaxation of arterioles/precapillary sphincters =lowered peripheral resistance and higher effective tissue perfusion.

WARNING: Do not try this at home, folks! Always consult with your healthcare provider before taking any new medications.

Benefits of Calcium Channel Blockers

So what are some benefits that calcium channel blockers provide?

  • Lowering high blood pressure
  • Reducing risk of heart disease
  • Relieving angina symptoms (chest pain)
  • Treating migraines
  • Improving circulation in Raynaud’s disease

### Side Effects

But wait, there’s more! Despite the benefits, as with all medication,some people may experience unwanted side effects such as:

  • Headaches(during vasodilatation induced fall in cerebral/radial artery BP)
  • Dizziness/ Fatigue/Asthenia(Because of heart rate or electrical conductivity drop),
  • Constipation(nifedipine and verapamil can cause sluggish bowel activity resulting in reduced nutrient absorption),
  • Peripheral edema(Accumulation of fluid around leg area due to VSMC relaxation.).

We know what you are thinking-“Are these common side effects?” It is best if you contact your health care provider(physician/pharmacist/nurse practitioner etc) to determine/counsel on a healthy prescription regime.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, we hope this article entertained you as well as informed you about the fascinating world of calcium channel blockers. These tiny little things have an incredibly important job when it comes to our health! Remember-always seek medical advice from professionals rather than relying on internet search engines(The info here should not be used in lieu of seeking advice for any underlying cardiac/neurological conditions, consult with the clinician).

Stay healthy and safe!

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