What condition is Digitalis (Digoxin) primarily used to treat?

Digitalis, specifically digoxin, is primarily employed in the treatment of heart failure, particularly congestive heart failure, and can be useful in certain cases related to right-sided heart failure. Digoxin works by increasing the force of heart contractions (positive inotropic effect) and by slowing the heart rate (negative chronotropic effect), which improves the overall efficiency of the heart's pumping action. This is especially beneficial in patients with heart failure, where the heart struggles to pump adequately.

In the context of right-sided heart failure and congestive heart failure, digoxin helps to alleviate symptoms and improve exercise tolerance by enhancing cardiac output. It is particularly useful in patients in whom other medications may not be sufficient on their own.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary therapeutic use of digitalis. For instance, hypertension may be managed with various other classes of medications rather than digoxin. Diabetes is typically treated with different agents focused on glycemic control. Additionally, hypokalemia, which refers to low potassium levels in the blood, is not a condition treated directly with digoxin; in fact, potassium levels can affect digoxin's effectiveness and safety, as low potassium can increase the risk of digoxin toxicity. Thus, digoxin's role in managing heart conditions