Which class of antihypertensive agents is effective for treating cardiac arrhythmias?

Calcium channel blockers are effective for treating cardiac arrhythmias due to their ability to inhibit the influx of calcium ions through L-type calcium channels in the heart and vasculature. By blocking these channels, they cause a decrease in the contractility of the heart muscle and help to stabilize the cardiac conduction system. This property makes them particularly beneficial in the management of various types of arrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation and tachycardias, as they effectively slow down the heartbeat and can help restore normal rhythm.

In contrast, thiazides and loop diuretics primarily work by affecting renal function to reduce blood volume through diuresis and are not specifically designed to treat arrhythmias. While they can influence blood pressure, they do not interact significantly with the cardiac conduction system to manage arrhythmias directly. ACE inhibitors also primarily target the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to lower blood pressure and do not possess significant direct effects on heart rhythm.