A 60-Year-Old Man Visits His Family Practitioner for His Yearly

A 60-year-old man visits his family practitioner for his yearly examination. He has a blood pressure of 180/100 mm Hg, a heart rate of 78 beats/min, and a pulse pressure of 80 mm Hg. His plasma cholesterol level is in the upper 25th percentile. A decrease in which of the following is the most likely explanation for the high pulse pressure in this patient?

A) Stroke volume
B) Arterial pressure
C) Heart rate
D) Arterial compliance
E) Total peripheral resistance