2006-11-01 12:44:49 · 2 answers · asked by Jeff W 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
It depends on the type of receptors they act upon. Alpha and Beta are a type of receptors found thoroughout your body that make part of the autonomic system (that regulates all the functions automatically without you having to think about it) for example your heart rate and in this case the diameter of the arteries. In hypertension your arteries are constricted(small diameter), and a way of treating hypertension is to make them "wider". Alpha blockers block constriction mediated by a type of receptor called alpha-1, while beta blockers act in a different way, they act blocking Beta-1 receptors which normally increase the production of a substance called renin which causes constriction. Its complicated to understand... i hope i made it a bit clearer!!
2006-11-01 15:10:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Hypertension-Whats the difference between an alpha and beta blocker?
2015-08-14 07:01:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are alpha & beta receptors in the sympathetic nervous system. They act totally differently.
To make things more complicated, there are Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, Beta-2 receptors.
2006-11-01 12:50:39 · answer #3 · answered by ckm1956 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I found one for heart failure... but these are related to hypertension but difficult in reading
2006-11-01 12:53:29 · answer #4 · answered by Red Panda 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋