Final answer:
Vasodilators like Nitroglycerin, Nitroprusside, Hydralazine, Isosorbide, and Minoxidil are used to treat cardiovascular conditions by dilating blood vessels and reducing preload, afterload, and blood pressure. They're used particularly in emergency situations like myocardial infarction, alongside other treatments such as oxygen, aspirin, thrombolytic agents, and various surgical interventions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nitroglycerin, Nitroprusside, Hydralazine, Isosorbide, and Minoxidil are all vasodilators used in the treatment of various cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and angina pectoris. These drugs function by dilating blood vessels, which can decrease both preload and afterload, leading to a reduction in blood pressure (BP). Vasodilators, when compared to other antihypertensive medications like Calcium Channel Blockers (such as Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Felodipine, Nifedipine, Nimodipine, Nisoldipine, and Verapamil), are often used in specific circumstances, like emergency management of myocardial infarction (MI), or when other drugs are not suitable.
These drugs aside, immediate treatment for MI includes administering supplemental oxygen, aspirin, and sublingual nitroglycerin. Longer-term treatments to address blood flow and pressure issues include thrombolytic agents, anticoagulant heparin, more invasive procedures like balloon angioplasty, stents, bypass surgery, or in severe cases, a donor heart or coronary assist device.