American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Practice Exam 2025 – The All-In-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

Atenolol is a medication that belongs to the class of beta-blockers and is commonly used for the management of chronic stable angina. The primary mechanism by which atenolol alleviates angina is by reducing heart rate, myocardial contractility, and blood pressure, which in turn decreases oxygen demand on the heart. By lowering the workload of the heart during physical activity or stress, atenolol effectively helps in preventing angina attacks in patients with chronic stable angina.

This medication is often favored in angina management due to its effectiveness and well-established safety profile. It is also beneficial in patients who may have co-existing conditions such as hypertension or heart failure, as it can address multiple issues simultaneously.

While the other medications have their own indications and uses, they do not primarily target chronic stable angina management as effectively as atenolol does. For instance, nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker that can also be used for angina but generally may not be as preferred for chronic management due to potential side effects like reflex tachycardia. Metoprolol, another beta-blocker, is also effective in treating angina but may not have been chosen in this context. Amiodarone is primarily an antiarr