Abstract

After myocardial infarction β blockers are used to slow the heart, reduce its force of contraction and to lower the blood pressure. Several multicentre studies have shown that using them routinely reduces both early and late mortality. What impact have these findings had on coronary care policy in Britain? Is it still important to prescribe a β blocker now that most patients who have had a myocardial infarction will have had fibrinolytic therapy?