Restriction of which electrolyte is recommended in the management of high blood pressure?

Choice A reason: Vasodilators are not the preferred agents for the initial treatment of heart failure. They are used as adjunctive therapy to reduce the afterload and preload on the heart. However, they do not address the fluid overload that is the main cause of heart failure symptoms.

Choice B reason: Diuretics are the preferred agents for the initial treatment of heart failure. They help to reduce the fluid overload and congestion in the lungs and peripheral tissues. They also lower the blood pressure and improve the cardiac output and renal function.

Choice C reason: Calcium channel blockers are not the preferred agents for the initial treatment of heart failure. They are contraindicated in most cases of heart failure because they can worsen the cardiac function and increase the mortality. They can also cause peripheral edema and hypotension.

Choice D reason: Direct renin inhibitors are not the preferred agents for the initial treatment of heart failure. They are a newer class of drugs that block the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which is involved in the pathophysiology of heart failure. However, they have not shown any significant benefit over the existing RAAS inhibitors, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). They can also cause hyperkalemia and renal impairment.

Choice A reason: Decreased cardiac output would result in a decrease in blood pressure, not an increase. Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute.

Choice B reason: Decreased vascular resistance would also result in a decrease in blood pressure, not an increase. Vascular resistance is the force that opposes the blood flow in the blood vessels.

Choice C reason: Hypovolemia would also result in a decrease in blood pressure, not an increase. Hypovolemia is the condition of having low blood volume due to fluid loss or dehydration.

Choice D reason: Vasoconstriction would result in an increase in blood pressure. Vasoconstriction is the narrowing of the blood vessels, which increases the vascular resistance and the blood pressure.