Final answer:
The initial therapy for a patient with hypertension and coexisting benign prostatic hyperplasia is an alpha-blocker, as it can effectively treat both hypertension and BPH symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The initial therapy for a patient with hypertension and coexisting benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is generally an alpha-blocker. Alpha-blockers are effective in treating both conditions because they can lower blood pressure and simultaneously relax the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, allowing for easier urination. Other classes of antihypertensive medications, such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), may not be the preferred initial therapy when specifically considering the management of coexisting BPH.
For example, medications such as terazosin or tamsulosin are often used as alpha-blockers for patients with BPH. While beta-blockers also treat hypertension, they are not typically used as initial therapy for patients with BPH because they do not target the urinary symptoms associated with prostate enlargement. On the other hand, medications such as lisinopril, benazepril, and captopril fall under ACEIs and are effective for blood pressure control but also do not specifically address BPH symptoms. Therefore, answer 'c. Alpha-blockers' is the correct initial therapy for a patient with hypertension and coexisting benign prostatic hyperplasia.