Post-heart attack care: Is it time to rethink beta blockers?

For the past 50 years, it has been common practice for doctors to prescribe beta blockers to patients recovering from heart attacks. New research suggests it may be time for a change in protocol.

Beta blockers are a class of medications that slow down your heart rate, relax the heart muscles, and treat many cardiac symptoms and concerns — including helping the heart recover after a myocardial infarction (MI), more commonly known as a heart attack.

But research published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the European Heart Journal showed women who experienced a MI, underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and had preserved heart function did not benefit from beta blocker therapy. In fact, it showed beta blockers may even increase one’s risk for adverse outcomes, such as bradycardia and hypotension.

Notably, the study did not find this same pattern when it came to male participants, which may highlight gender-specific differences impacting care.

“While additional research is needed, these findings suggest it may be time to reexamine the use of beta blocker therapy to treat patients after they have a heart attack,” explains Dr. Michael Fortsas, an interventional cardiologist at Advocate Health Care. “However, beta blockers are still considered the best course of treatment for many cardiac symptoms, including arrhythmia and high blood pressure. Though, these new insights could prompt updates to existing treatment guidelines to better align with what is most effective and beneficial for cardiac patients.”

If you have questions about taking beta blockers, Dr. Fortsas encourages you to talk with your health care providers to develop a care plan that is right for you. He also stresses the importance of establishing care, having routine preventive care follow-ups and receiving early intervention for any heart-related conditions or symptoms.

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