Question

Two types of drugs used to treat primary hypertension are calcium channel blockers and beta (adrenergic receptor) blockers. Both types of drugs decrease cardiac output.

Mark all true statements:

a. these drugs would both lower mean arterial pressure (MAP)

b. these drugs would also affect bronchial diameter

c. these drugs would both increase stroke volume

d. these drugs would both increase afterload

e. these drugs both affect smooth muscle tone

Answer 1

Beta blockers	Calcium channel blockers
Act primarily by reducing the cardiac output thus reducing the systolic blood pressure but lately decrease the peripheral resistance also. Therefore decrease both. SBP and DBP. So it decreases the MAP.	It blocks calcium channels in both heart and blood vessels. Therefore reduce MAP.
Decrease the bronchial diameter. Therefore non selective beta blockers are contraindicated in asthmatic patients	No effect on bronchial diameter
It has negative inotropic and negative chronotropic effect. Therefore reduces the stroke volume	Preserve the stroke volume
It gradually decrease the afterload by dilating arteries.	Dilates the arteries thereby reducing the afterload.
Do not affect smooth muscle tone	inhibits the calcium channels in the smooth muscles of coronary and peripheral arteriolar vasculature

Therefore only option correct is a.