Beta blockers may not help many heart attack victims, research claims

Study finds 95% of patients who had heart attack but not heart failure saw no benefit, suggesting drugs are overprescribed

Many patients given beta blockers after a heart attack may not benefit from being on the drugs, suggesting they may be being overprescribed, researchers have said.

UK medical guidelines recommend all people who have had a heart attack should be put on beta blockers, medicines that reduce the activity of the heart and lower blood pressure.