Alpha-blockers
Alpha-blockers
Alpha-blockers (pronounced: al-fuh-blok-ers), also known as alpha-adrenergic antagonists or alpha-adrenergic blockers, are a class of medications that are primarily used to treat high blood pressure and benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Etymology
The term "alpha-blocker" is derived from the class of receptors they act upon, known as alpha receptors. The "blocker" part of the name refers to the way these medications work, by blocking the action of the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline on these receptors.
Usage
Alpha-blockers work by relaxing certain muscles and helping small blood vessels remain open. They do this by blocking receptors in the muscles of the heart and blood vessels, preventing the action of adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are chemicals that can cause these muscles to contract.
Alpha-blockers are used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
- High blood pressure: By relaxing the muscles in the walls of the blood vessels, alpha-blockers can help to lower blood pressure.
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia: Alpha-blockers can also help to relax the muscles in the prostate and the bladder neck, allowing urine to flow more easily.
- Raynaud's disease: In some cases, alpha-blockers may be used to help improve blood flow to the hands and feet in people with Raynaud's disease.
Related Terms
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Alpha-blockers
- Wikipedia's article - Alpha-blockers
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski