A client has a long history of hypertension and has developed heart failure.The nurse should anticipate giving medications for which purpose?
A)To increase preload
B)To decrease afterload
C)To decrease contractility
D)To decrease cardiac output

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In heart failure, the heart is not able to effectively pump blood out to the body. This can often be due to increased afterload, or resistance the heart must work against to pump blood out. Medications that decrease afterload, such as ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), can be used to help the heart pump more effectively and improve symptoms of heart failure. Medications to increase preload or decrease contractility would not be appropriate in this case as they would put further strain on the already weakened heart. Medications to decrease cardiac output would also not be appropriate as the goal is to improve cardiac output to better circulate blood throughout the body.

A Client Has a Long History of Hypertension and Has