A client taking atenolol (Tenormin) may not exhibit the expected rise in blood pressure and pulse during which GAS phase?

A client taking atenolol (Tenormin) may not exhibit the expected rise in blood pressure and pulse during which GAS phase?

• A. Alarm stage
• B. Resistance stage
• C. Exhaustion stage
• D. Recovery stage

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how beta-adrenergic blockade alters the immediate stress response. In the Alarm stage of General Adaptation Syndrome, the body triggers a fight-or-flight response with a surge of catecholamines that normally raises heart rate and blood pressure. Atenolol, a beta-1 blocker, prevents much of that cardiac stimulation, so the expected rise in pulse and BP may not occur. This blunted response is most evident during the initial alarm reaction, before the body has a chance to adapt in the subsequent Resistance phase. In the later stages, the pattern of changes is driven more by prolonged adaptation and depletion of resources, not the immediate catecholamine surge that the beta blocker suppresses.

The main idea is how beta-adrenergic blockade alters the immediate stress response. In the Alarm stage of General Adaptation Syndrome, the body triggers a fight-or-flight response with a surge of catecholamines that normally raises heart rate and blood pressure. Atenolol, a beta-1 blocker, prevents much of that cardiac stimulation, so the expected rise in pulse and BP may not occur. This blunted response is most evident during the initial alarm reaction, before the body has a chance to adapt in the subsequent Resistance phase. In the later stages, the pattern of changes is driven more by prolonged adaptation and depletion of resources, not the immediate catecholamine surge that the beta blocker suppresses.