Your Heart Medicine May Trigger An Asthma Attack

 

If you have heart problems, your doctor might prescribe a beta-blocker. It can slow your heart if it's beating too fast, and it can help lower blood pressure. 

But - if you have asthma, beta blockers can make asthma worse. 

That's why it's important that your doctor knows about ALL of your medical conditions. 

How do beta-blockers impact asthma? 

First, it's important to know that there are two types of beta-blockers. 

• Nonselective beta-blockers - these affect the blood vessels in your body (including the lungs) 

•  Selective beta-blockers (cardioselective beta-blockers) - these affect your blood pressure and heart rate  

 What does this have to do with asthma? 

Nonselective beta-blockers have a side effect of causing a bronchospasm (when the airways suddenly narrow when the muscles contract) which can make it hard to breathe 

According to Healthline:

 "Doctors don’t recommend nonselective beta-blockers for people with asthma, as there is a higher risk they could trigger an asthma attack."

You may notice:

• Coughing 
• Wheezing 
• Shortness of breath
• Or more frequent asthma attacks  

 Your inhaler may not work as well as usual 

I can't find a way to explain this that isn't too technical, so I'm going to leave that up to your doctor. But, if you want to plow through medical terms, this article explains it how beta-blockers can affect your albuterol inhaler  

As always, your doctor can help you decide which medicine is the best for YOUR body. 

Hugs, 

Andrea  

 ** Disclaimer: this information is meant to be educational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals**