What class of medication is typically used to manage hypertension and heart failure indicated by the suffix '-pril'?

The suffix '-pril' is characteristic of ACE inhibitors, which are a class of medications commonly prescribed to manage hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart failure. ACE stands for angiotensin-converting enzyme, and these medications function by inhibiting this enzyme to reduce the production of angiotensin II, a substance that causes blood vessels to constrict. As a result, ACE inhibitors promote vasodilation and sodium excretion, leading to lower blood pressure and decreased workload on the heart.

Other classes of medications specified in the choices do not have this suffix and serve different purposes. For instance, beta blockers primarily work by slowing the heart rate and reducing the force of contraction of the heart muscle, which is beneficial in managing conditions like arrhythmias and certain types of heart disease, but they are not indicated by the '-pril' suffix. Calcium channel blockers help regulate blood flow by preventing calcium from entering cells of the heart and blood vessel walls, but this mechanism is distinct from that of ACE inhibitors. Anticonvulsants, on the other hand, are primarily used to treat seizures and have no application in the management of hypertension or heart failure. Therefore, the medication class indicated by the suffix '-pril' is rightly identified as ACE inhibitors