AEMCA Practice Exam

How do diuretics contribute to managing hypertension?

1. By dilating blood vessels

2. By reducing blood volume through increased urination

3. By blocking calcium channels

4. By increasing heart rate

The correct answer is: By reducing blood volume through increased urination

Diuretics play a significant role in managing hypertension primarily by reducing blood volume through increased urination. When diuretics are administered, they act on the kidneys to promote the excretion of sodium and water. As the body expels more sodium, it naturally retains less water; this process leads to a decrease in total blood volume. With less fluid circulating in the vascular system, the pressure on the arterial walls decreases, resulting in lower blood pressure. This mechanism makes diuretics particularly effective for patients whose hypertension is often fueled by fluid overload conditions, such as in cases of heart failure or certain kidney disorders. In contrast, the other options focus on mechanisms that are not directly related to the primary action of diuretics in hypertension management. For example, dilating blood vessels is an action typically associated with other classes of antihypertensive medications, such as vasodilators. Blocking calcium channels refers to calcium channel blockers, another category of blood pressure medication, which have a different mechanism of action. Lastly, increasing heart rate is not a method employed by diuretics; in fact, many antihypertensive medications aim to lower heart rate as part of their overall therapeutic effects.