An 81-Year-Old Male Resident of a Long-Term Care Facility Has

An 81-year-old male resident of a long-term care facility has a long-standing diagnosis of heart failure. Which of the following short-term and longer-term compensatory mechanisms are least likely to decrease the symptoms of his heart failure?

A) An increase in preload via the Frank-Starling mechanism
B) Sympathetic stimulation and increased serum levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine
C) Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and secretion of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)
D) AV node pacemaking activity and vagal nerve suppression