Final answer:
ACE inhibitors are medications used to treat cardiovascular issues like high blood pressure and heart failure by blocking the action of the ACE enzyme, which reduces blood pressure and the heart's workload.
Step-by-step explanation:
ACE inhibitors are medications used to treat or improve symptoms of cardiovascular conditions including high blood pressure and heart failure. These drugs work by blocking the action of the enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which is functionally important in regulating systemic blood pressure and kidney function.
ACE, produced in the lungs but active in the endothelial cells of the afferent arterioles and glomerulus, converts inactive angiotensin I into active angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor that raises blood pressure. By inhibiting this conversion, ACE inhibitors help to lower blood pressure and reduce the workload on the heart, thereby helping to relieve heart failure symptoms. These drugs may also be used to slow certain types of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias), particularly atrial fibrillation.