🦠 Tetanus: Lockjaw, Spasms, and the Power of Prevention
Learn the pathophysiology, presentation, and prevention of tetanus for the USMLE. Master buzzwords like risus sardonicus, lockjaw, and tetanospasmin in this high-yield review.
🩺 Mechanism of Action: Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) Inhibitors
Explore how RAAS inhibitors work by disrupting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Learn the pharmacologic sites of action including ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and aldosterone antagonists.
Beta Blockers – High-Yield Clinical Applications and Exam Traps
If you’ve ever been tricked by a Step 1 question where a patient gets hypotensive and bradycardic after taking a “-lol” drug—you’re not alone. Beta blockers are USMLE classics, and for good reason: they tie together pharmacology, cardiovascular physiology, and clinical judgment.
Today’s post breaks down the essentials of beta blockers, how they show up on the USMLE, and how to avoid the common traps—using a KOTC visual that maps beta selectivity and clinical uses.