When teaching about methyldopa, it is important for the patient to know that it
- A. decreases cardiac output
- B. may produce mental confusion
- C. may produce drowsiness initially
- D. blocks the release of norepinephrine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Initial drowsiness is a common side effect of methyldopa.
You may also like to solve these questions
What is the ability of cardiac cells to respond to an impulse by transmitting the impulse along cell membranes?
- A. Contractility
- B. Automaticity
- C. Conductivity
- D. Rhythmicity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Conductivity. Cardiac cells have the ability to transmit impulses along cell membranes, allowing for the coordinated contraction of the heart. Conductivity refers to this specific property of cardiac cells to propagate electrical signals.
Contractility (A) refers to the ability of cardiac muscle cells to generate force during contraction. Automaticity (B) refers to the ability of cardiac cells to spontaneously generate electrical impulses. Rhythmicity (D) refers to the regularity of these electrical impulses in the heart. Conductivity is the most relevant choice as it directly addresses the transmission of impulses along cell membranes in cardiac cells.
Which type of medication helps to lower cholesterol levels in the blood?
- A. Statins
- B. Beta-blockers
- C. ACE inhibitors
- D. Diuretics
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Statins are the correct answer as they specifically target and lower cholesterol levels in the blood by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in the liver responsible for producing cholesterol. Statins are proven to reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of cardiovascular events. Beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics do not directly affect cholesterol levels; beta-blockers are used for managing blood pressure and heart rate, ACE inhibitors for blood pressure and heart function, and diuretics for reducing fluid buildup in the body. Therefore, statins are the most appropriate medication for lowering cholesterol levels.
Which valve opens during ventricular systole and closes during ventricular diastole?
- A. Aortic valve
- B. Pulmonary valve
- C. Mitral valve
- D. Tricuspid valve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: During ventricular systole, the ventricles contract to pump blood out. The pulmonary valve opens to allow blood to be ejected from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery, leading to the lungs. This prevents the backflow of blood into the right ventricle during ventricular diastole when the ventricles relax. The aortic valve opens during ventricular systole to allow blood to be ejected from the left ventricle into the aorta, not during ventricular diastole. The mitral valve and tricuspid valve control the flow of blood between the atria and ventricles, not during ventricular systole. Therefore, the correct answer is B (Pulmonary valve).
What term describes the phenomenon wherein decreased BP causes a reflex SNS response with increased pulse, increased contractility, and vasoconstriction; and increased BP causes reflex vagal responses resulting in decreased heart rate and passive vasodilation in the systemic arterioles?
- A. Baroreflex
- B. Cheyne-Stokes breathing
- C. Frank-Starling Law
- D. Starling reflex
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Baroreflex. The baroreflex is a physiological mechanism that helps regulate blood pressure by responding to changes in pressure. When blood pressure decreases, the baroreceptors detect this change and trigger a sympathetic nervous system (SNS) response, leading to increased heart rate, contractility, and vasoconstriction to raise blood pressure. Conversely, when blood pressure increases, the baroreceptors trigger a parasympathetic (vagal) response, resulting in decreased heart rate and vasodilation to lower blood pressure.
Summary of other choices:
B: Cheyne-Stokes breathing is a pattern of breathing characterized by periodic waxing and waning of tidal volume.
C: Frank-Starling Law describes the relationship between preload and stroke volume, not the response to changes in blood pressure.
D: Starling reflex is not a recognized physiological mechanism related to blood pressure regulation.
Which term refers to a condition where the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is blocked, often referred to as a heart attack?
- A. Myocardial infarction
- B. Arrhythmia
- C. Stroke
- D. Aneurysm
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction refers to the condition where the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is blocked, leading to tissue damage or cell death. This is commonly known as a heart attack. It is crucial to understand that arrhythmia (B), stroke (C), and aneurysm (D) are different medical conditions that do not specifically involve the blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle. Arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat, stroke is the interruption of blood supply to the brain, and an aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel. Therefore, the correct term for a condition involving a blocked blood supply to the heart muscle is myocardial infarction.