Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

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Prepare for the EMT Basic Certification Exam with flashcards and multiple-choice questions; each question includes hints and explanations. Ensure your success!

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What are the actions of nitroglycerin?

Increases heart rate, reduces blood pressure
Moisturizes the lungs, increases oxygen flow
Smooth muscle relaxation, reduces cardiac workload
Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system

The correct answer is: Smooth muscle relaxation, reduces cardiac workload

Nitroglycerin is a medication primarily used to treat angina pectoris, myocardial infarctions, and acute heart failure. Its main actions involve smooth muscle relaxation, particularly of vascular smooth muscle. This relaxation leads to vasodilation, which reduces resistance the heart must overcome to eject blood. As a result, the workload of the heart is decreased, thereby reducing the oxygen demand on cardiac tissues. By decreasing cardiac workload, nitroglycerin helps prevent anginal pain and improve blood flow to the heart muscle. The choice that outlines smooth muscle relaxation and reduced cardiac workload captures the essence of how nitroglycerin functions in a clinical setting. It highlights the importance of vasodilation in managing cardiac conditions, allowing for improved circulation without increasing heart rate or other potentially harmful effects.