Question

Describe the purpose of drug therapy for heart failure when administering vasodilator drugs such as nitroprusside or nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker.

Answer 1

Heart failure: Inabiity of the heart to pump blood effectively to meet the needs of the body.

causes: Heart gets too weak to pump effectively due to  coronary artery disease or hypertension (high BP).

purpose of drug therapy for heart failure:

• to improve blood flow by vasodilation
• to decrease workload on the heart
• to decrease blood pressure

pupose of administering vasodilator drugs such

nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker

• By blocking calcium there is decrease in electrical activity of pacemaker cells that leads to decrease in heart rate.
• calcium channel blocker prevent calcium from entering into the heart muscle cells and smooth muscle cells , that cause blood vessels to constrict (vasoconstriction leads to increase in blood pressure).
• By reducing influx of calcium , calcium channel blocker helps these muscle cells to relax. this relaxation leads to dilation of blood vessels (vasodilation) and a reduced force of contraction of the heart muscle. eventually there is fall in heart rate and blood pressure.

nitroprusside prescribed in hypertension (antihypertensive drug) , they relax smooth muscles of blood vessels that leads to vasodilation of peripheral arteries and veins.

please give a thumbs up if you find the answe satisfactory , Thank you . ALL THE BEST.