Some years ago a few doctors got together planning to propose legislation to mandate that everyone should be put on β-blockers. Fortunately some of them fell asleep.
My son is a cardiac RN; he says many doctors see β-blockers as a miracle drug. They are incapable of understanding why anyone should not want to be on those drugs.
In the late 90's I was on a β-blocker. I was less involved in my medical care, like most people. I got so weak that I decided that I was dying; I gave away my tools and told a neighbor that they could have my car post mortem. A friend drove me to his doctor who took me off of the βeta drug - but didn't explain anything.
I improved, of course; I started studying what happened and noted it. About a year later that doctor said he wanted to change my BP med. I responded that I hoped that it was not a β-blocker since that had nearly killed me. 'No' he said, 'this is something new that I want you to try.'
I was working part time in the motor pool at the local Navy base, driving, operating equipment. I was driving a bus with the Navy band about 60 miles on the turnpike to an engagement. I was struggling to keep the coach on the road, steering with one arm and resting the other for a minute then switching.
When I dropped the band off I went to the mall and looked at a Rx consumer guide; he had prescribed a β-blocker. He lied to me! He could have killed me and everyone on that bus!
Now medical people mistake me for a pharmacist; my present doctor likes to introduce me as a doctor. No, no! But I am now in charge of my own case, whatever the issue. Consulting with the surgeon prior to my recent lumbar spinal column fusion, we were examining the MRI; I identified the narrowing at L3 to L5, a stenosis due to a notable listhesis, plus a cyst caused by the tissue irritation. He laughed and said that I had medical training. I told him no but I like to take charge of my medical case, not to argue but to ask questions.
It has been an evolution. 😇
We’ve had semi serious griping about β-blockers in the field target community as giving an unfair advantage to the older crowd. We shoot at targets so small with such high powered scopes that a high BP or elevated heart rate can translate into a visible bounce of the reticle...