Beta Blockers & Calcium Channel Blockers
This medication class slows the heart rate and reduces the force of contraction by blocking beta-adrenergic receptors.
What are beta blockers?
Nitroglycerin belongs to this medication class and is commonly used to relieve an episode of angina.
What are nitrates?
Digoxin may be prescribed for certain patients with heart failure or atrial fibrillation to improve cardiac contractility or help control ventricular rate. It is classified as this type of medication.
What is a cardiac glycoside?
Albuterol is a short-acting beta-2 agonist commonly used to relieve acute bronchospasm. It belongs to this medication category.
What are bronchodilators?
A patient with hypertension takes metoprolol to lower blood pressure and reduce cardiac workload. Which medication class is this?
What are beta blockers?
A patient taking metoprolol may have a smaller-than-expected increase in this vital sign during exercise.
What is heart rate?
Nitrates widen blood vessels and reduce cardiac workload, but they can also cause this drop in blood pressure when a patient stands up.
What is orthostatic hypotension?
A patient taking digoxin reports nausea, poor appetite, and unusual visual disturbances. These may be warning signs of this medication complication.
What is digoxin toxicity?
Albuterol relaxes airway smooth muscle and helps improve this aspect of breathing in a patient with asthma or COPD.
What is airflow?
A patient with hypertension takes amlodipine, which lowers blood pressure primarily by relaxing arterial smooth muscle. Which class is this?
What are calcium channel blockers?
A PTA uses a target heart-rate formula to prescribe exercise intensity for a patient taking a beta blocker. Why might this be less reliable?
What is a blunted heart-rate response?
A patient with angina takes sublingual nitroglycerin as prescribed. During exercise, new chest pain develops. The PTA should stop activity and follow the patient's emergency and angina action plan.
What is an angina episode requiring prompt assessment and the prescribed response?
Low levels of this electrolyte can increase the risk of digoxin toxicity. A PTA should be alert to weakness, abnormal heart rhythms, and relevant medical history.
What is potassium?
A patient uses albuterol before exercise and then develops hand tremors and a racing heartbeat. These are recognized potential adverse effects of this medication.
What are tremor and tachycardia?
A patient with chronic heart failure has fluid retention and is prescribed furosemide to help remove excess fluid. Which class is this?
What are loop diuretics?
A patient taking propranolol reports dizziness and unusual fatigue during a treadmill session. These symptoms may indicate this exercise-related concern.
What is exercise intolerance or symptomatic hypotension?
Combining nitroglycerin with sildenafil or similar PDE-5 inhibitors can cause this potentially dangerous reaction.
What is severe hypotension?
Before progressing exercise in a patient taking digoxin, the PTA observes a markedly slow pulse and new dizziness. The appropriate response is to stop or withhold progression and promptly report the findings.
What is possible symptomatic bradycardia requiring clinical assessment?
Ipratropium helps open the airways by blocking this type of receptor-mediated effect of acetylcholine.
What is muscarinic receptor activity?
A patient with stable angina is prescribed sublingual nitroglycerin for episodes of chest discomfort. Which class is this?
What are nitrates?
A patient with stable angina and hypertension takes metoprolol. During exercise, the PTA should pay particular attention to symptoms, blood pressure, perceived exertion, and this measure of the patient's reported effort.
What is the rating of perceived exertion (RPE)?
A patient with heart failure takes furosemide. During a warm-weather therapy session, the patient develops weakness, dizziness, and unusual fatigue. The PTA should consider fluid depletion and this related electrolyte disturbance.
What is an electrolyte imbalance, such as hypokalemia?
A patient with atrial fibrillation takes digoxin and an anticoagulant. Which medication helps control heart rate, and which reduces the risk of clot-related stroke?
What is digoxin for rate control and an anticoagulant for reducing thromboembolic risk?
A patient with COPD uses a long-acting bronchodilator daily. The PTA should understand that maintenance bronchodilators help with symptom control but are not necessarily the correct rescue treatment for this event.
What is an acute episode of severe bronchospasm?
A patient with hypertension and heart failure takes enalapril to reduce the effects of the renin-angiotensin system. Which class is this?
What are ACE inhibitors?