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Glite Dictionary
calcium blocker

calcium blocker

1 4.6
A drug that reduces calcium entering heart and blood vessel muscles to treat high blood pressure and chest pain
  • noun
  • /ˈkælsiəm ˈblɑːkər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : bloqueador de calcio
  • Patients with angina often benefit from using a calcium blocker to relieve their chest pain.

Examples

  • His doctor prescribed a calcium blocker to help control his high blood pressure.

  • Some migraine sufferers find that a calcium blocker can reduce the frequency of their headaches.

  • The patient responded well to the calcium blocker during treatment for irregular heart rhythms.

  • A calcium blocker can help lower high blood pressure.

  • Many doctors prescribe calcium blockers for heart conditions.

  • The doctor prescribed a calcium blocker to help manage my high blood pressure.

  • After starting his medication, he felt better because the calcium blocker helped regulate his heart function.

Synonyms

calcium-channel blocker
vscalcium blocker
  • Specialized
1 5.2

A medicine that reduces calcium entering the heart and blood vessels to treat high blood pressure and chest pain

is identical in meaning but written in hyphenated form

Surface Forms

calcium blocker singular
calcium blockers plural

Morphology

calcium + blocker

The meaning is directly compositional: a 'blocker' is something that blocks and 'calcium' names the substance being blocked, so a learner who knows both words can infer it is a drug that blocks calcium-related action. Although medical, the noun+noun compound follows transparent, cross-linguistically common formation and does not require idiomatic knowledge.

Etymology

Calcium blocker comes from the image of calcium as tiny particles trying to enter heart muscle cells and a blocker that shuts the gate. By stopping calcium from getting in, the medicine makes the heart and blood vessels 'relax', so it 'reduces' the heart's work and 'lowers blood pressure'.