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.
• At lower doses, nitroglycerin dilates veins more than arteries. This results in a decrease of preload, which decreases cardiac output.
• The sympathetic nervous system kicks in, increasing heart rate so that cardiac output can be maintained.