Emily Solow studies how certain heart medications affect blood flow and function in people with high blood pressure. For example, she compares drugs such as nebivolol and metoprolol to understand how they help manage hypertension while allowing patients to maintain their ability to exercise. Additionally, she investigates issues related to artificial pacemakers, particularly focusing on rare but dangerous malfunctions that can lead to excessively high heart rates.
Key findings
In a study of 25 hypertensive patients, metoprolol reduced muscle blood flow during exercise by about 50%, while nebivolol did not affect blood flow, suggesting nebivolol might be preferable for maintaining exercise capacity.
The 1979 study on runaway pacemakers revealed that these devices, even when functioning normally, can experience severe malfunctions, with one instance reporting a heart rate of 750 beats per minute, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring.
Awareness of pacemaker risks has increased due to this research, potentially leading to better patient outcomes through improved device monitoring and management protocols.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Solow study high blood pressure?
Yes, Dr. Solow focuses on the effects of heart medications on patients with high blood pressure.
What treatments has Dr. Solow researched?
Dr. Solow has researched heart medications such as nebivolol and metoprolol, comparing their effects on exercise-related blood flow.
Is Dr. Solow's work relevant to patients with pacemakers?
Yes, her research on the risks associated with pacemakers is directly relevant, helping patients and doctors understand potential device malfunctions.
How do Dr. Solow's findings affect exercise for hypertensive patients?
Her findings suggest that nebivolol may be a better medication choice for hypertensive patients who want to maintain their ability to exercise without reduced blood flow.
Publications in plain English
Differential effects of nebivolol vs. metoprolol on microvascular function in hypertensive humans.
2016
American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology
Velasco A, Solow E, Price A, Wang Z, Arbique D +5 more
Plain English This study compared the effects of two heart medications, nebivolol and metoprolol, on blood flow in muscles during exercise in 25 patients with high blood pressure. Both medications lowered blood pressure and heart rate, but metoprolol reduced blood flow to the muscles during exercise by about 50%, while nebivolol did not affect blood flow. These findings matter because they show that nebivolol may be a better option for patients who want to avoid the issue of decreased muscle blood flow during physical activity.
Who this helps: Hypertensive patients who need heart medication and wish to maintain their exercise capacity.
Plain English This study looked at a rare but serious issue with artificial pacemakers called "runaway pacemaker," where the device can start to malfunction and cause a dangerously high heart rate. In one case, a pacemaker was functioning normally just a week before it unexpectedly jumped to 750 beats per minute, signaling a severe problem. The findings highlight that even newer models of pacemakers can experience this issue, underscoring the need for awareness and monitoring.
Who this helps: This helps patients with pacemakers and their doctors by raising awareness of potential risks.
Alejandro Velasco Angela Price Zhongyun Wang Debbie Arbique Gary Arbique Beverley Adams-Huet Edzard Schwedhelm Jonathan R Lindner Wanpen Vongpatanasin B Bacharach
Physician data sourced from the
NPPES NPI Registry
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Publication data from
PubMed
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Plain-English summaries generated by AI.
Not medical advice.