Which medication class can help reduce heart workload and lower blood pressure?

The medication class that helps reduce heart workload and lower blood pressure is ACE inhibitors. These drugs work by inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme, which plays a key role in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). By blocking this enzyme, ACE inhibitors lower the production of angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor. As a result, blood vessels can relax and widen, which decreases the resistance the heart faces when pumping blood. This reduction in vascular resistance lowers blood pressure and decreases the overall workload on the heart, making it easier for it to function.

Additionally, ACE inhibitors also promote the excretion of sodium and water, which can contribute to reduced blood volume, further lowering blood pressure. This dual action—relaxing blood vessels and decreasing blood volume—makes ACE inhibitors particularly effective in managing conditions like hypertension and heart failure.

In contrast, while beta-blockers can also reduce heart workload, their primary mechanism is to slow the heart rate and reduce the force of contraction, rather than directly lowering blood pressure through vasodilation. Diuretics primarily help reduce blood pressure by decreasing blood volume through increased urination but do not impact vascular resistance as significantly as ACE inhibitors. Corticosteroids