What type of medication is used to decrease the heart's force and rate of contraction?

Beta blockers are a class of medications specifically designed to decrease the heart's force and rate of contraction. They achieve this by blocking the effects of adrenaline (epinephrine) on beta-adrenergic receptors, which are found in the heart and other tissues. As a result, this leads to a reduction in heart rate and myocardial contractility, effectively lowering the workload on the heart. This makes beta blockers particularly useful in managing conditions like hypertension, heart failure, and certain types of arrhythmias.

In contrast, vasodilators primarily work by relaxing the blood vessels, which can lower blood pressure but do not directly decrease heart rate or contractility. Diuretics help remove excess fluid from the body and reduce blood pressure but do not directly affect the heart's contraction force or rate. Anticoagulants prevent blood clotting but do not influence the heart's performance in the context of its rate or force of contraction. Thus, beta blockers are uniquely suited for the purpose described in the question.