I'm in a similar health position as many of you described. I think we should be pro-active in our own health issues and part of that is to be knowledgeable. Just for you all to digest, especially if there are beta blockers and/or specifically Atenolol in your past, present or future take a look at this article I just received from Medscape titled: "Reducing Heart Rate in Hypertension Is Harmful -- or Is It Just Atenolol? which concludes with these two "Pearls for Practice":

• Heart rate lowering with beta-blockers in patients with hypertension is associated with a greater risk for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.
• Heart rate lowering with beta-blockers is associated with an increased risk for heart failure, nonfatal MI, and stroke, with a linear inverse relationship."

Minor side effects - increased mortality (dying) and increased risk for heart failure etc.

NOT GOOD!