What effect does Labetalol have on heart rate and contractility?

Labetalol is a combined alpha and beta-adrenergic blocker, which means it has properties that affect both types of receptors. Its primary effects include decreasing heart rate and contractility.

When labetalol blocks beta-1 adrenergic receptors, it helps in reducing heart rate, which is beneficial for patients with hypertension or other cardiovascular conditions where lowering heart rate is desired. Additionally, by blocking these receptors, labetalol decreases the force of cardiac contraction (contractility), leading to a reduction in myocardial oxygen demand. This makes labetalol an effective choice for managing conditions such as hypertension, especially in patients who may have concurrent heart failure or other issues where decreased contractility is advantageous.

Therefore, labetalol's dual action of decreasing heart rate and contractility makes it effective in managing various cardiac-related issues, aligning well with option C.