What is the difference between calcium channel blockers and beta blockers?

[Hard Hearted Hannah]

I've heard on the news that they have been testing and found that calcium channel blockers and Ace inhibitors are best used to fight high blood pressure.

I take a beta blocker Atenolol and HZT (Hydrchlorothiazide) for hypertension. Is this the same thing? Of course I will follow this up with my doctor next week but would like some laymen input.

[clair]

a beta blocker slows the heart down but hctz is a water pill it does not affect the heart. Hctz gets rid of the extra water because water retention increases blood pressure because water causes pressure on the blood vessels. Calcium channel blockers prevents calcium ions from getting into cells particulary heart muscle cells.

[mokmok69]

Also beta blockers decrease nocturnal melatonin release, perhaps partly accounting for sleep disturbance caused by some agents.Beta blockers protect against social anxiety: "Improvement of physical symptoms has been demonstrated with beta-blockers such as propranolol; however, these effects are limited to the social anxiety experienced in performance situations

[Hard Hearted Hannah]

Thank you Clair and Mokmok69 for your detailed and informative replies.

[mokmok69]

Your welcome dude,.