Heart Medication Not As Effective As Advertised; New York Medical Malpractice Attorney Shares Details Of New Study

A new study has shown that beta-blockers are not as effective as they are advertised to be. There ineffectiveness is exposing people taking beta-blockers to unnecessary side effects. The study found that a person taking beta-blockers with chronic heart disease no more likely to suffer a heart attack or die, then those who people who are not taking beta-blockers.

Beta-blockers are prescribed to people how have recently had a heart attack in order to prevent future heart attacks. Also, they are helping preventing heart failure. The beta-blockers receiver credit for these things because they slow a person’s heart rate and lower blood pressure. Many believe that beta-blockers have long-term good effects for those taking it; meaning many doctors prescribe it to their patients and have them continue to take the beta-blockers indefinitely. However, this study shows that beta-blockers do not necessarily do what they are prescribed to do in the short term. This study shows that we don’t know that beta-blockers actually ward off heart attacks.

The study performed by the NYU Langone Medical Center looked at a registry of 45,000 people with risk factors of heart disease including coronary artery disease. The study followed these people for 44 months and found that of those monitored with coronary artery disease 12.9% of those on beta-blockers either had a heart attack or died from heart disease, this is nearly identical to the 13.6% of those who did not take beta-blockers. Further, 14.2% of those on beta-blockers suffering from risk factors experienced a bad outcome, while 12% of those on non-beta-blockers experienced a bad outcome. And lastly, there was no difference between those on beta-blockers and those not on them who had previously suffered a heart attack.

This study’s results were not conclusive, however, it shows that more research on beta-blockers are necessary. There are many issues that go into heart health such as diet, exercise and genetics. Beta-blockers are one piece to the puzzle, however, with the amount of people on beta-blockers we must determine how effective they are.

But what do you think? I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com . You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.