Question

The nurse prepares to administer an ACE inhibitor to a patient with an acute MI for which reason?

A. To minimize platelet aggregation
B. To reduce preload and afterload
C. To reduce myocardial oxygen consumption
D. To decrease myocardial oxygen demand

Answer 1

ACE inhibitors are administered to patients with an acute MI to reduce preload and afterload, thereby decreasing the work of the heart and preventing further damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse prepares to administer an ACE inhibitor to a patient with an acute MI to reduce preload and afterload. ACE inhibitors work by blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, which helps lower blood pressure by reducing vasoconstriction. In the context of an acute myocardial infarction (MI), lowering the blood pressure helps to decrease the work the heart must do to pump blood, effectively reducing the heart's oxygen demand and the strain on cardiac muscles. Therefore, ACE inhibitors are useful for reducing the stress on the heart following an MI, and this may help prevent further damage to the heart muscle.