Which statement best describes the overall cardiovascular effect of epinephrine?

Which statement best describes the overall cardiovascular effect of epinephrine?

• A. It causes vasodilation and decreased heart rate
• B. It lowers blood pressure
• C. It reduces heart rate and dilates arteries
• D. It increases heart rate and blood pressure

Answer: (D)

Epinephrine acts on multiple adrenergic receptors to ramp up cardiovascular activity. On the heart, it stimulates beta-1 receptors, which increases the heart rate and the force of contraction, boosting cardiac output. It also raises blood pressure by causing some vasoconstriction through alpha-1 receptors in many vessels, adding to the rise in systemic pressure; plus beta-2 effects in skeletal muscle can cause some localized vasodilation, but they don’t offset the overall pressor effect. So the overall picture is a faster heart rate with higher blood pressure, which matches the best description. The other options describe effects that don’t align with epinephrine’s actions: it doesn’t cause a decrease in heart rate or widespread vasodilation with lower blood pressure, and it doesn’t typically reduce heart rate while dilating arteries.

Epinephrine acts on multiple adrenergic receptors to ramp up cardiovascular activity. On the heart, it stimulates beta-1 receptors, which increases the heart rate and the force of contraction, boosting cardiac output. It also raises blood pressure by causing some vasoconstriction through alpha-1 receptors in many vessels, adding to the rise in systemic pressure; plus beta-2 effects in skeletal muscle can cause some localized vasodilation, but they don’t offset the overall pressor effect. So the overall picture is a faster heart rate with higher blood pressure, which matches the best description.

The other options describe effects that don’t align with epinephrine’s actions: it doesn’t cause a decrease in heart rate or widespread vasodilation with lower blood pressure, and it doesn’t typically reduce heart rate while dilating arteries.