Final answer:
Vasodilator therapy is used to reduce afterload and lower blood pressure in patients with cardiovascular conditions. However, the treatment is not indicated for asymptomatic patients with normal blood pressure and preserved left ventricular function, as they would not benefit from the decreased afterload that vasodilators provide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement concerns the use of vasodilator therapy in patients who have no symptoms, normal blood pressure (systemic hypertension), and preserved left ventricular function. Vasodilators, which include a range of medications such as calcium channel blockers and drugs that increase fluid loss from the kidneys, are mainly used to lower blood pressure and reduce the afterload on the heart. Afterload is the tension the ventricles must overcome to pump blood effectively, and vasodilators help by decreasing the strength of contraction and the systemic vascular resistance. In asymptomatic patients with preserved left ventricular (LV) function, the routine use of vasodilator therapy is not indicated unless blood pressure is elevated (hypertension), as their heart is coping well without these medications, and there's no current evidence that they would benefit from the reduction in afterload or blood pressure that vasodilators provide.
In summary, vasodilators work by reducing afterload and promoting fluid loss. Conditions such as angina pectoris have greatly benefited from the advent of these medications. However, in the absence of systemic hypertension and symptoms, and when LV function is not compromised, vasodilator therapy is not routinely required.