Alpha blockers (also called alpha-adrenergic blocking agents) constitute a variety of drugs which block α1-adrenergic receptors in arteries and smooth muscles.
These drugs may be used to treat:
- benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
- high blood pressure (hypertension).
- symptoms of non inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome, a type of prostatitis.
Alpha blockers include:
* Doxazosin (Cardura)
* Prazosin (Minipress)
* Phenoxybenzamine
* Phentolamine (Regitine)
* Tamsulosin (Flomaxtra/Flomax)
* Alfuzosin (Uroxatral)
* Terazosin (Hytrin)
Beta blockers (sometimes written as β-blockers) are a class of drugs used for various indications, but particularly for the management of cardiac arrhythmias and cardioprotection after myocardial infarction.
Whilst once first-line treatment for hypertension, their role was downgraded as they do not perform as well as other drugs, particularly in the elderly, and there is increasing evidence that the most frequently used beta-blockers especially in combination with thiazide-type diuretics carry an unacceptable risk of provoking type 2 diabetes.
Beta blockers may also be referred to as beta-adrenergic blocking agents, beta-adrenergic antagonists, or beta antagonists.
A fat-like substance important to certain body functions but which, in excessive amounts, contributes to unhealthy fatty deposits in the arteries that may interfere with blood flow.
A condition characterized by high blood sugar resulting from the body's inability to use sugar (glucose) as it should. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas is not able to make enough insulin; in type 2 diabetes, the body is resistant to using available insulin.
A diuretic is any drug that elevates the rate of bodily urine excretion (diuresis).
There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics increase the excretion of water from the body, although each class of diuretic does so in a distinct way.
A heart attack (also called myocardial infarction or MI) occurs when an area of heart muscle is completely deprived of blood, and the heart muscle cells die.
A heart attack may result when plaque inside the heart arteries breaks open or ruptures, forming a clot that significantly blocks blood flow through the artery.
A plaque is made up of cholesterol, white blood cells, calcium, and other components; it is surrounded by a fibrous cap. If a sudden surge in blood pressure causes the artery to constrict, the fibrous cap may tear or rupture. This signals the body to repair the injured artery lining, much as it might heal a cut on the skin, by forming a blood clot to seal the area. A blood clot that forms in an artery can completely block blood flow to the heart muscle and cause a heart attack.
The pain of a heart attack often occurs with other symptoms, including:
The pain of a heart attack usually will not go away with rest.
It is important to recognize the early stages of a heart attack and to seek emergency care. Medical treatment is needed to prevent death. Sometimes medicines can be given to reduce the damage to the heart muscle caused by a heart attack.
Hypertension, commonly referred to as "high blood pressure" or HTN, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated.
While it is formally called arterial hypertension, the word "hypertension" without a qualifier usually refers to arterial hypertension. Hypertension can be classified as either essential (primary) or secondary.
Essential hypertension indicates that no specific medical cause can be found to explain a patient's condition.
Secondary hypertension indicates that the high blood pressure is a result of (i.e. secondary to) another condition, such as kidney disease or certain tumors (especially of the adrenal gland).
Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysm, and is a leading cause of chronic renal failure.
Even moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure leads to shortened life expectancy. At severely high pressures, mean arterial pressures 50% or more above average, a person can expect to live no more than a few years unless appropriately treated.
Hypertension is considered to be present when a person's systolic blood pressure is consistently 140 mmHg or greater, and/or their diastolic blood pressure is consistently 90 mmHg or greater
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nervous system disease that affects your brain and spinal cord. It damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects your nerve cells. This damage slows down or blocks messages between your brain and your body, leading to the symptoms of MS. They can include
No one knows what causes MS. It may be an autoimmune disease, which happens when your body attacks itself. Multiple sclerosis affects woman more than men. It often begins between the ages of 20 and 40. Usually, the disease is mild, but some people lose the ability to write, speak or walk. There is no cure for MS, but medicines may slow it down and help control symptoms. Physical and occupational therapy may also help.
Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, such as Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis, have revolutionized the treatment of erection problems (erectile dysfunction). However, they can cause life-threatening side effects for anyone who also takes nitroglycerin or another medication containing an organic nitrate. This combination can make your blood pressure fall too low, possibly leading to a stroke or a heart attack.
Medications that contain organic nitrates include:
Obesity a condition in which the natural energy reserve, stored in the fatty tissue of individuals, is increased to a point where it is associated with certain health conditions or increased mortality.
Although obesity is an individual clinical condition, it is increasingly viewed as a serious and growing public health problem: excessive body weight has been shown to predispose to various diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus type 2, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis.
is a painful and potentially harmful medical condition in which the erect penis does not return to its flaccid state (despite the absence of both physical and psychological stimulation) within about four hours.
Priapism is considered a medical emergency, which should receive proper treatment by a qualified medical practitioner.
Your prostate tends to grow as you get older. In some men, the prostate can get large enough to put pressure on the urethra, causing problems such as difficulty urinating, incomplete emptying of the bladder or dribbling of urine. This is known as benign prostatic obstruction (BPO).
It isn't cancer and there is no evidence that it leads to cancer. A prostate surgery is an operation to remove some of the enlarged prostate gland so that urine can flow more freely.
Not all men who have BPO need to have a prostate surgery.. There are a number of other options.
Medicines. These include alpha-blockers, such as doxazosin. They improve the flow of urine and/or shrink the prostate by relaxing smooth muscle fibres.
Heat Therapy. This uses microwaves, lasers or an electric current to destroy excess prostate tissue. One example is TUVP (transurethral electrovaporisation of the prostate).
Greenlight laser photoselective vaporisation of the prostate (PVP). This is a new method of treating BPO in which a laser emitting green light is used to vaporise a passage through the prostate, so reducing it in size.
A stent. This is a short tube that is inserted into the urethra to help improve the flow of urine. Stents can become blocked over time, so they are only used for men who aren't suited to surgery or drug treatment. They are rarely used.
Herbal remedies. Some men find saw palmetto extract helpful. However, there is conflicting evidence over its effectiveness.
No treatment. If the symptoms are not too troublesome, some men choose not to have any treatment. The symptoms of BPO do not always get worse over time and may get slightly better.
A stroke is a sudden disruption in blood flow to the brain caused by a blockage or bleeding of a blood vessel. Areas of the brain that are affected by the blockage or bleeding can become damaged within minutes.
The effects of a stroke may be mild or severe and temporary or permanent, depending on which brain cells are damaged, how much of the brain is involved, and how quickly the blood supply is restored to the area.
Symptoms of a stroke are usually sudden and may include:
A person with stroke symptoms needs immediate medical attention to help limit potential damage.
Angina that occurs at rest or with minimal exertion
A device used for treatment of impotence that features a pump that draws air from a plastic cylinder placed over the penis and creates a vacuum that allows increased blood flow to the penis which causes and erection.
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This information is not intended as individual medical advice and does not substitute for the knowledge and judgment of your health care professional. This information does not contain any assurances that this product / products is safe, effective, or appropriate for you.
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