Final answer:
Increased ANP leads to increased urinary output and reduced blood pressure, as the hormone promotes sodium and water excretion from the kidneys.
Step-by-step explanation:
The atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a hormone produced by the heart that plays a crucial role in regulating blood volume and blood pressure. Increased ANP levels are typically found in response to conditions that lead to increased blood volume and pressure, such as heart failure or hypertension. In patients with sleep apnea, the episodic increase in blood pressure during apneas may also trigger the release of ANP. Due to its effects on the kidneys, a nurse would anticipate finding symptoms that reflect an increased excretion of sodium and water. More specifically, the nurse might expect to observe increased urinary output (diuresis) and possible signs of decreased blood volume such as lower blood pressure. This occurs because ANP promotes the excretion of sodium, and water passively follows sodium to maintain osmotic balance, resulting in increased urine production. The actions of ANP effectively reduce blood volume and pressure and inhibit the release of other hormones such as renin, aldosterone, and antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which otherwise work to increase blood volume and pressure.