(For more, see the What is being tested? section.) A hemoglobin test may be used to: Screen for, diagnose, and measure the severity of anemia (low RBCs, hemoglobin and hematocrit) or polycythemia (high RBCs, hemoglobin and hematocrit) Monitor the response to treatment of anemia or polycythemia.
Calcium channel blockers prevent calcium from entering into the heart muscle cells, and into the smooth muscle cells that cause blood vessels to constrict. This relaxing effect results in the dilation of blood vessels, and a reduced force of contraction of the heart muscle.
Beta-blockers are drugs that bind to beta-adrenoceptors and thereby block the binding of norepinephrine and epinephrine to these receptors. This inhibits normal sympathetic effects that act through these receptors. Therefore, beta-blockers are sympatholytic drugs. Some beta-blockers, when they bind to the beta-adrenoceptor, partially activate the receptor while preventing norepinephrine from binding to the receptor. These partial agonists therefore provide some background of sympathetic activity while preventing normal and enhanced sympathetic activity.