Final answer:
Adverse reactions to ACE inhibitors include weakness, nausea, hypotension, and fatigue, with severe cases possibly leading to adrenal crisis and kidney failure. For pregnant women, risks also encompass fetal complications like renal failure and cranial bone abnormalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adverse reactions to ACE inhibitors can include symptoms such as weakness, nausea, hypotension, and fatigue. In severe cases, ACE inhibitors can lead to adrenal crisis characterized by severe abdominal pain, lower back and leg pain, circulatory system collapse, and kidney failure. A particularly serious reaction seen in pregnant women includes fetal renal failure and resulting complications like pulmonary hypoplasia and limb contractures, as well as fetal cranial bone abnormalities. ACE inhibitors work by blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, which reduces its ability to increase blood pressure.
It is essential for individuals on ACE inhibitors, especially those with high blood pressure, to be aware of these potential adverse effects. Monitoring by healthcare professionals is crucial for managing and mitigating these risks. ACE inhibitors are a common treatment for hypertension due to their role in diminishing the effects of angiotensin II, which causes vasoconstriction and raises blood pressure.