For heart attack survivors, starting beta blockers (group of medications that block the stress hormone adrenaline) at or before hospital discharge has been shown to reduce death and disability (American Heart Journal, December, 2004: 148 (6); 944-50).
The most recent report (3rd qtr., 2008) shows 81% of UAMS heart attack survivors received a prescription for a beta blocker (group of medications that block the stress hormone adrenaline) at discharge compared with the national average of 93% and the average for University Healthsystem Consortium hospitals of 100%.
