Calcium Channel Blocker

-
Calcium Channel Blocker is any of a group of drugs used to treat disorders of the cardiovascular system. Examples of disorders include high blood pressure (hypertension), angina pectoris (chest pains caused by reduced oxygen flow to the heart muscle), and irregular heartbeat. These drugs are also effective in treating migraine headaches.

Calcium channel blockers interfere with the movement of calcium in cells of the blood vessels and heart. This has the effect of slowing the heart rate and dilating blood vessel walls, thereby reducing blood pressure and easing the heart’s workload. It also increases the supply of oxygen-carrying blood to the heart muscle, providing relief from angina pain. Specific calcium channel blockers include diltiazem, nifedipine, and verapamil.

Calcium channel blockers are prescription drugs available as tablets and capsules. They are taken in one or more doses ranging from 5 to 480 mg per day, depending on the particular drug and the condition being treated. An injectable liquid form is typically prescribed in 5- to 10-mg doses. Effectiveness may not be apparent for two to four weeks. Because calcium channel blockers control but do not cure cardiovascular problems, they are often used in long-term therapy (months to years) even after symptoms are relieved.

Patients taking calcium channel blockers should not stop taking the drugs abruptly, as their condition may worsen. Exercise or other physical exertion should be approved by a doctor. These drugs have not been proven safe for use during pregnancy.

Potential side effects associated with calcium channel blockers include constipation, diarrhea, fluid retention, headache, nausea, and dizziness. The dizziness and headache will usually dissipate as the physician adjusts the dosage. Calcium channel blockers may interact adversely with other prescription medications such as digoxin, cimetidine, or various blood thinners.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bacteria

-
Bacteria is a one-celled organisms visible only through a microscope. Bacteria live all around us and within us. The air is filled with bacteria, and they have even entered outer space in spacecraft. Bacteria live in the deepest parts of the ocean and deep within Earth. They are in the soil, in our food, and on plants and animals. Even our bodies are home to many different kinds of bacteria. Our lives are closely intertwined with theirs, and the health of our planet depends very much on their activities. Bacterial cells are so small that scientists measure them in units called micrometers (µm). One micrometer equals a millionth of a meter (0.0000001 m or about 0.000039 in), and an average bacterium is about one micrometer long. Hundreds of thousands of bacteria would fit on a rounded dot made by a pencil. Bacteria lack a true nucleus, a feature that distinguishes them from plant and animal cells. In plants and animals the saclike nucleus carries genetic material in the form of deoxyrib
Read more

Diseases and Disorders of Respiratory System

-
. The diseases and disorders of the respiratory system can affect any part of the respiratory tract and range from trivial to life-threatening. The nasal passages and pharynx, for example, are targets for the viruses that cause colds . These viruses infiltrate and destroy the cells of the nasal passage membranes. The immune system fights back by increasing blood flow to the area, bringing numerous virus-attacking white blood cells to the scene; this causes the membranes to swell, resulting in the stuffy nose associated with colds. Mucous secretions increase in response to the viral attack, creating the runny nose typical of colds. The infection can spread to the sinuses, the membrane-lined cavities in the head, as well as the lower respiratory tract and the middle ear. The respiratory system is also subject to allergic reactions such as hay fever and asthma , brought about when the immune system is stimulated by pollen, dust, or other irritants. Hay fever is characterized by a runny n
Read more

Human Nutrition

-
Human Nutrition is learning how food affects the health and survival of the human body. Human beings require food to grow, reproduce, and maintain good health. Without food, our bodies could not stay warm, build or repair tissue, or maintain a heartbeat. Eating the right foods can help us avoid certain diseases or recover faster when illness occurs. These and other important functions are fueled by chemical substances in our food called nutrients. Nutrients are classified as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. When we eat a meal, nutrients are released from food through digestion. Digestion begins in the mouth by the action of chewing and the chemical activity of saliva, a watery fluid that contains enzymes , certain proteins that help break down food. Further digestion occurs as food travels through the stomach and the small intestine, where digestive enzymes and acids liquefy food and muscle contractions push it along the digestive tract. Nutrients are absor
Read more