A patient is admitted to the hospital for chest pain. The nurse administers a nitroglycerin tablet. What change in vitals signs can the nurse expect?

Explanation

• Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator, leading to a reduction in blood pressure. Its strong venodilating effects cause a decrease in preload leading to a decrease in cardiac output. This causes a reflex response by the sympathetic nervous system, increasing heart rate in order to maintain cardiac output 

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