Only a small number of patients with heart failure are actually receiving beta blockers as treatment. In reality, there's remarkable proof that beta blockers can help in the case of heart failure.

In fact, the proof is pretty much the best that proof can be when it comes to the medical community. But doctors just aren't rushing to put patients on beta blockers the way you might think they would be in the face of such proof.

If you're a patient who's dealing with heart failure, it's probably a good idea for you to talk to your doctor about the possibility of using beta blockers in your treatment. If you wait around for your doctor to decide on his own that beta blockers are safe and effective, it might be too late.

Not all heart failure patients should be prescribed beta blockers. People with asthma or very low blood pressure might not do well on beta blockers. But if your doctor refuses to put you on them, you deserve an accurate explanation as to why they aren't right for you specifically.

If your doctor just doesn't believe in prescribing beta blockers for heart failure patients, he might need to be educated about the COPERNICUS trials. If you decide to speak with your doctor about beta blockers, he may be immediately defensive or argumentative.

This is pretty common among doctors. Your doctor may tell you that the data about their use for heart failure is still inconclusive, or that it's widely known that beta blockers are dangerous in the case of heart failure.

But don't let this dissuade you. You should continue to insist that your doctor do further research into the safety and efficacy of beta blockers for heart failure. You don't have to pressure your doctor to prescribe them against his better judgment.

He's still trying to act in your best interests. But if your doctor refuses to budge on the issue and won't tell you why, you might consider getting a second opinion. Long-held beliefs about heart health in the medical community are often hard to break.

When doctors receive specific training about a particular fact, it can be very difficult to persuade them that their belief is incorrect. This is something you'll have to realize, and it may mean you have to find another doctor if you can't get yours to budge.

Some doctors are just more resistant to change than others. So be prepared to at least get a second opinion if you can't get your doctor to come around. Remember, he's probably not being difficult. He just thinks he's doing the right thing.

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