Identify a reason a narcotic agent may be prescribed.

Choice A rationale

Cardiac glycosides are not known for increasing heart rate. Instead, they tend to decrease heart rate by enhancing vagal tone and increasing the refractory period of the atrioventricular node, which helps in controlling heart rate, especially in atrial fibrillation.

Choice B rationale

Cardiac glycosides actually increase the force of myocardial contractions. They inhibit the sodium-potassium ATPase pump, which leads to an increase in intracellular sodium and calcium levels in the myocardial cells, thus increasing the force of contraction.

Choice C rationale

Cardiac glycosides do not significantly decrease conduction velocity. They primarily affect the contractility and heart rate but their influence on conduction velocity is relatively mild.

Choice D rationale

Cardiac glycosides improve renal blood flow and increase urine output by increasing the cardiac output and reducing the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. This helps in relieving symptoms of heart failure.

Choice A rationale

Peripheral edema is more commonly associated with right-sided heart failure rather than left-sided. This is because right-sided heart failure leads to systemic venous congestion, causing fluid to accumulate in the peripheral tissues, particularly in the legs and ankles.

Choice B rationale

Pulmonary edema is a major concern in left-sided heart failure due to the inability of the left ventricle to effectively pump blood out to the systemic circulation. This results in blood backing up into the pulmonary veins, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs.

Choice C rationale

Liver edema, or hepatomegaly, is more typically seen in right-sided heart failure, where the failure of the right ventricle causes blood to back up into the systemic circulation, affecting the liver and other organs.

Choice D rationale

Abdominal edema, or ascites, is also more associated with right-sided heart failure. This condition occurs due to increased pressure in the veins and capillaries, leading to fluid leakage into the abdominal cavity.