heartstimulatory
Heartstimulatory is a term used to describe substances or physiological processes that increase the activity of the heart. In practice, it usually refers to agents or conditions that raise heart rate (positive chronotropy) and/or the force of myocardial contraction (positive inotropy). Heartstimulatory effects can be natural, such as the release of adrenaline during stress, or pharmacological, through drugs designed to activate cardiac receptors or signaling pathways. The term is not a formal clinical category, but it is commonly used to describe positive chronotropic and inotropic actions.
Most clinically significant heartstimulatory effects arise from activation of beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart, which
Common heartstimulatory drugs include epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, dobutamine, and isoproterenol, used in settings such as cardiac
Nonpharmacologic heartstimulation occurs with exercise, thyroid hormone effects, and autonomic regulation. While beneficial for performance and
Related topics include positive inotropes, chronotropic agents, inotropy, and pacemakers.