Paramedics have administered a medication to a patient in heart failure. The medication specifically causes the veins to enlarge, thus decreasing the amount of blood coming back to the heart for pumping. The EMT would recognize this action as:

Question

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Preload refers to the amount of blood returning to the heart, which stretches the heart muscle before it contracts. By administering medication that causes the veins to enlarge and decrease the amount of blood returning to the heart, preload is decreased. This reduces the work the heart has to do, which can be helpful in heart failure. Afterload refers to the resistance the heart must overcome to pump blood out of the heart and into the circulatory system, pulse pressure refers to the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and systemic vascular resistance refers to the resistance to blood flow in the circulatory system. These concepts are not directly related to the action of the medication described.

Paramedics Have Administered a Medication to a Patient in Heart