Ace the Cardiac Vascular Nursing Exam 2025 – Pump Up Your Success!

Beta-blockers are known to potentially cause second or third degree heart block as a side effect of medication. These drugs work by blocking the effects of adrenaline on the heart, which reduces heart rate and contractility. This mechanism can lead to increased vagal tone and subsequently a slower conduction through the atrioventricular (AV) node. In some individuals, this can progress to more significant conduction abnormalities, such as second-degree (Mobitz Type I or II) and third-degree heart block.

While ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and thiazide diuretics have their own side effect profiles, they are not typically associated with the same degree of heart block as beta-blockers. Calcium channel blockers can also affect heart conduction, particularly non-dihydropyridine types, but the beta-blockers have a more pronounced and established relationship with AV node conduction abnormalities. Therefore, the risk of heart block occurring as a side effect is particularly pertinent to beta-blockers.