Smoking hampers beta blockers

Smoking may modify the effect of beta blockers on HDL-cholesterol levels, according to a research team at Brown University in Providence, RI, who examined the relationship between antihypertensive medications’ effect on lipid levels and smoking status. The resulting data suggested that people who smoked and were treated with beta-blockers had particularly low levels of HDL-cholesterol, thus increasing their risk of coronary heart disease. One of the investigators, Carol A. Derby, MD, points out the high prevalence of smoking and beta-blocker use and suggests that their combined effect could impact public health.