An athlete uses a medication that causes the kidneys to retain more sodium and water than normal. If no compensatory mechanisms fully offset this change, what effect would most likely occur?

• A. Systemic blood pressure would decrease because vascular resistance falls automatically
• B. Blood pressure would remain constant because heart rate controls pressure independently of volume
• C. Arterial pressure would increase due to expansion of blood volume
• D. Blood pressure would decrease because baroreceptors stop responding to arterial stretch

Answer: (C)