Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
The beta blocker drugs used to treat blood pressure and
heart problems can markedly impair your ability to exercise,
according to a study from Switzerland (European Journal of
Applied Physiology, October 2005). How hard you can exercise
is limited by the ability of your heart to pump blood from your lungs
to your exercising muscles. Beta blockers markedly reduce blood
flow and oxygen supply to muscles. Beta blocker brand names
include Toprol, Inderal, Blocadron, Coreg, Inopran, Levatol,
Pindolol, Sectral, Tenormin, Timolol Trandate, Zebeta and
Bisoprol.
Beta blockers are prescribed to treat people who have
had heart attacks, heart pain, heart failure, rapid heart beat and
atrial fibrillation. However, even though many physicians
prescribe beta blockers to treat high blood pressure, there is no
data show that they prevent heart attacks in healthy people. If
beta blockers interfere with your ability to exercise, ask your
doctor if you can take other types of medications such as ace
inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers or calcium channel
blockers. Better yet, control your blood pressure with diet.
Checked 12/30/08