Calcium channel blockers are primarily used to treat which condition?

Calcium channel blockers are primarily used to treat hypertension, or high blood pressure. These medications work by inhibiting the influx of calcium ions into the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels. By doing so, they cause the blood vessels to relax and widen, which leads to a decrease in blood pressure. This mechanism is particularly beneficial for patients with hypertension, as lowering blood pressure can reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications such as stroke and heart disease.

In contrast, the other options are not the primary treatment uses for calcium channel blockers. For instance, hypotension, or low blood pressure, is not treated with calcium channel blockers, as these medications would likely exacerbate the condition by further lowering blood pressure. While calcium channel blockers can be beneficial post-heart attack as a part of comprehensive management, their primary indication is not for treating heart attacks directly. Lastly, cholesterol management typically involves statins or other lipid-lowering agents, rather than calcium channel blockers, which do not influence cholesterol levels directly. Hence, the main focus of calcium channel blockers is indeed on managing hypertension.