[Beta blockers today]

Although beta-blockers have held their own as the cornerstones of cardiological treatment for almost twenty years, the beneficial effects of these classic agents are not always appreciated in clinical work. Simplified hypertensive treatment or other factors may sometimes argue for the use of newer medicines, but many pathophysiological manifestations of high blood pressure are still best controlled with beta-blockers. The range of available preparations has increased and new compounds are continually appearing on the market.