Beta Blockers and Exercising with Aortic Disease
This is an updated Science Wednesday replay from November 2023. (You can search Aortic Athletes’ site for “Science Wednesdays” on a variety of exercise and aorta topics).
Beta blockers slow the heart rate, both at rest and while exercising. Also, beta blockers attenuate (reduce the force of) the heart rate at rest and during exercise.
They are almost universally prescribed for aortic disease. And why?
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, studies show that beta blockers may decrease the rate of aortic dilation (growth) in people with aortic disease.
And while beta-blockers may not affect aortic aneurysm growth significantly, they confer other benefits. This includes increased survival for patients that undergo aortic aneurysm repair. And beta blockers reduce perioperative mortality (in the hospital during surgery) and complications.
Some common names of beta blockers are: carvedilol, metoprolol succinate (the long-acting form of metoprolol), and bisoprolol.
In clinical practice, beta blockers have no meaningful negative consequences or effects on muscle strength, breathing capacity, exercise induced bronchoconstriction or gas transfer capacity (tightened muscles restricting air flow to the lungs).
No matter how hard you exercise when taking a beta blocker, you may not reach your previous target heart rate. But being unable to reach that target doesn’t mean you’re not getting heart benefits from exercise.
Moderate workouts should still feel somewhat hard. That means they take work, but you can keep going. If you can’t talk while you’re exercising, you’re likely working at a more vigorous rate.
You will still build muscle at a moderate exertion level, keep your bones strong, and lower your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. You’ll also improve your heart’s efficiency and endurance.
If you recently started a beta blocker, you might feel less energetic and even sluggish during your exercise routine. But over time, you should get back to the same sense of fulfillment from working out.
So, what’s your exercise experience with beta blockers?
And for a deep dive here is some additional reading on beta blockers including the sources cited here.
NIH – The Impact of Beta Blockade on the Cardio-Respiratory System and Symptoms During Excercise
The Mayo Clinic – Beta blockers: How do they affect exercise?
Harvard Health Publishing – Do beta blockers interfere with exercise?
AHA – How Do Beta Blocker Drugs Affect Exercise?
A YouTube on the side effects of Metoprolol and how to avoid them