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aldosterone
a hormone made in the adrenal cortex that helps to control the balance of water and salts in the kidneys, retaining sodium and releasing potassium from the body
angina
chest discomfort in the front of the chest, neck, shoulders, jaw, or arms that is precipitated by physical exertions and relieved by rest or sublingual nitrates
angiotensin I
a protein in blood that promotes aldosterone secretion and raises blood pressure
angiotensin II
a protein in the blood that causes the muscular walls of the arterioles to constrict and narrow, thereby increasing blood pressure
angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)
a classification of drug that binds to and inhibits angiotensin II type I receptors
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor
a classification of drug that blocks the body’s production of angiotensin II; the protein that causes vasoconstriction and inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine, which stimulates catecholamine release
antianginal drugs
drugs used in the treatment of angina
antihypertensive drugs
drugs used in the treatment of hypertension
beta-adrenergic blocker
a classification of drug that inhibits chronotropic, inotropic, and vasoconstrictor response to catecholamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine by exerting effects on adrenergic receptors beta 1, beta 2, and alpha.
calcium channel blocker
a classification of drug that blocks calcium from entering cells by binding to long-acting voltage-gated calcium channels in the heart, smooth muscle, and pancreas
cardiac output
the product of the heart rate and stroke volume; the volume of blood pumped by the heart per unit of time, usually measured in liters per minute
diastolic blood pressure
indicates how much pressure the blood is exerting against artery walls while the heart is resting between beats; the second number of a blood pressure reading
diuretic
a classification of drug that induces sodium loss and increases urine flow; typically used to treat hypertension, heart failure, and volume overload states
heart rate
the number of times each minute the heart beats
hypertension
when an individual’s blood pressure is above the normal limits for a sustained period of time
hypotension
when an individual’s blood pressure is below the normal limits for a sustained period of time
nitrate
a classification of drug that causes vasodilation of blood vessels by imparting nitric oxide, which relaxes smooth muscles
peripheral vascular resistance
determined by blood flow in the body and the level of constriction or dilatation within the vessels
renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)
a compensatory mechanism the body activates during hypotension (when the blood pressure is low)
stroke volume
the volume of blood pumped out of the left ventricle of the heart during each systolic cardiac contraction
systolic blood pressure
indicates how much pressure the blood is exerting against the artery walls when the heart beats; the first number of a blood pressure reading
vasopressin
an antidiuretic hormone that regulates blood pressure, blood osmolality, and blood volume
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