Which class of medication is primarily used to treat hypertension and angina?

Beta-blockers are primarily used to treat hypertension and angina due to their mechanism of action, which involves blocking the effects of adrenaline on the heart and blood vessels. By doing so, beta-blockers effectively reduce heart rate, decrease contractility, and lower blood pressure. This leads to a reduction in myocardial oxygen demand, which is particularly beneficial for individuals with angina, as it alleviates chest pain caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle during physical exertion or stress.

In the context of hypertension, beta-blockers help manage blood pressure levels by decreasing cardiac output and reducing the workload on the heart. They are often prescribed when other first-line antihypertensive medications do not result in adequate control or in patients who specifically benefit from their effects due to co-existing conditions, such as heart failure or a history of myocardial infarction.

While other medication classes, such as calcium channel blockers or ACE inhibitors, also play important roles in managing hypertension and angina, beta-blockers are distinct in their dual efficacy for both conditions, making them a central component of treatment strategies in clinical practice.