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Podcast: Real Life Pharmacology - Pharmacology Education for Health Care Professionals
Episode: Antihypertensives Part 4 – Nitrates
Description: Welcome to today’s episode, where we’re diving into the world of nitrate medications—one of the cornerstone therapies in cardiovascular care. Whether you’re a pharmacist, nurse, med student, or just curious about how medications keep the heart happy, nitrates are fascinating because of their unique mechanism and versatile clinical uses.
Nitrates work by releasing nitric oxide, a powerful molecule that relaxes smooth muscle and dilates blood vessels. This vasodilation primarily reduces venous return to the heart, lowering preload and myocardial oxygen demand, and at higher doses, can also decrease afterload. For patients with angina, this mea...