What is the classification of medication that decreases heart rate and workload?

The classification of medication that decreases heart rate and workload is beta-blockers. These medications work by blocking the effects of adrenaline (epinephrine) on beta receptors in the heart. This action slows down the heart rate and reduces the force of contraction of the heart muscle, leading to a decrease in the heart's workload.

Beta-blockers are particularly useful in managing conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, and certain types of arrhythmias. By reducing heart rate and workload, they help prevent complications like myocardial infarctions and promote better overall cardiovascular health.

In contrast, diuretics are primarily used to reduce fluid overload and lower blood pressure by promoting urine production. Calcium channel blockers reduce heart rate and dilate blood vessels, but they do so through a different mechanism that may not specifically target heart rate reduction as effectively as beta-blockers. ACE inhibitors work by blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, which ultimately helps manage blood pressure but does not directly decrease heart rate or workload in the same manner as beta-blockers. Thus, beta-blockers are the most effective class of medication for specifically addressing both heart rate and workload reduction.