Beta Blockers

Posted By Bill on July 22, 1998 at 22:03:03:







I'm a 54 year old male. I have adult onset diabetes, which is being controlled by diet. I had a thallium stress test a few weeks ago that was ordered by my doctor after I told him about an episode of chest pain. The only symptom I'd had was chest pain and it was not related to resting or exertion. The doctor ordered the test as a percuasion. The test came back positive. The cardiologist felt the results showed what might be a blockage in an artery at the bottom of the heart, near the rib cage. He couldn't be sure that there was a blockage, but seeing as the blockage showed only after exercise he felt there was a blockage. He said that the only way to be sure would be to perform an angiogram, but he felt the defect was so minor that even if something was found he would probably recommend not doing anything. He prescribed baby aspirin with  no follow up.
Yesterday, I went back to my doctor to get a medical clearance for surgery to repair a deviated septum and remove polyps from my nose. The doctor said, because of my history of diabetes, and this newly discovered heart disease he recommended that I postpone this elective surgery, and prescribed ATENOLOL, I'm not sure if it was 50 or 100 mgs.
Can you explain why he is prescribing a beta blocker when the cardiologist only prescribed aspirin. I've had no problems with blood pressure, angina or other conditions that ATENOLOL is usually prescribed for. I really don't want to start taking it after reading some of the side effects and finding that there may be problems if I stop taking it.