What category of antihypertensive medications causes vasodilation and blocks aldosterone secretion?

The category of antihypertensive medications that causes vasodilation and blocks aldosterone secretion is ACE inhibitors. These medications impede the action of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which is crucial in the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor. By inhibiting this process, ACE inhibitors lead to vasodilation, which helps to lower blood pressure. Additionally, by reducing the production of angiotensin II, the secretion of aldosterone is also inhibited. Aldosterone is a hormone responsible for sodium and water retention, and by blocking its secretion, ACE inhibitors contribute to a decrease in blood volume, further aiding in the reduction of blood pressure.

Other categories of antihypertensive medications do not possess both of these specific actions in the same way. For instance, beta blockers mainly reduce heart rate and myocardial contractility, calcium channel blockers primarily work by preventing calcium from entering heart and blood vessel cells, leading to reduced heart contractility and relaxation of blood vessels, and diuretics promote the excretion of sodium and water but do not block aldosterone secretion directly or cause vasodilation in the same manner that ACE inhibitors do.