Beta blockers & Calcium channel blockers

[cynthia]

what is the difference between the two? are they both used to control say, atrial tachycardia?

[kthanki]

The conduction system of heart mostly runs independently of nervous system and maintains the heart rythm. Although, our autonomic nervous system plays a role in heart function by adjusting rate and strength of the mycardial contraction.
Excessive stimulation from nervous system causes change in heart rate and premature contractions. The sympathetic nervous sytem branch causes release of norepinephrine which induces tachycardia. This happens through beta-1 receptors and increase in Calcium ion movement into the heart muscle cell.

So beta blockers work on the Beta-1 receptors and calcium channel blockers reduce the movement of calcium ions into the heart cells. So both of them are kind of useful in their own way to slow down abnormally rapid heart rythms and reduce the strength of contraction.

[cynthia]

thank you for your explanations, Ketan! you are very well informed! take care