What does the name Beta Blocker mean for the class of blood pressure medication? What is the medication actually blocking?

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Originally posted by WindTalker:
What does the name Beta Blocker mean for the class of blood pressure medication? What is the medication actually blocking?

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or beta adrenergic blocking agent (b´t d´´rnûr´jk) (KEY) , drug that reduces the symptoms connected with hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, migraine headaches, and other disorders related to the sympathetic nervous system. Beta blockers also are sometimes given after heart attacks to stabilize the heartbeat. Within the sympathetic nervous system, beta-adrenergic receptors are located mainly in the heart, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. Beta blockers compete with the nerve-stimulating hormone epinephrine for these receptor sites and thus interfere with the action of epinephrine, lowering blood pressure and heart rate, stopping arrhythmias, and preventing migraine headaches. Because it is also epinephrine that prepares the body for “fight or flight” in stressful or fearful situations, beta blockers are sometimes used as antianxiety drugs, especially for stage fright and the like. People taking a beta blocker must avoid caffeine, alcohol, and salty foods, because the interaction of those substances and the drug can raise the heart rate and blood pressure. Propranolol (Inderal) is a commonly used beta blocker.

Thanks koicarp.