Tag: Preload

A significant 2003 study in the journal *Circulation* showed beta-blockers can improve ventricular structure and function over time in heart failure patients. Understanding exactly **how do beta blockers affect preload and afterload** is key to grasping their comprehensive cardiovascular benefits and implications for conditions like hypertension and angina.

First developed by Ernest Starling in the early 20th century, the Starling heart lever is a mechanical instrument used in experimental pharmacology to record the force of cardiac contractions in isolated animal heart preparations. This classic apparatus was a pivotal tool for studying cardiac mechanics and was critical for demonstrating the foundational Frank-Starling law of the heart.

Nitroglycerin was first used to treat angina pectoris in 1879, making nitrates one of the oldest therapies for this condition. In simple terms, how do nitrates treat angina? These powerful vasodilators primarily work by decreasing the heart's workload, which reduces its demand for oxygen and relieves chest pain.