Which of the following medications may be included in the treatment plan for someone with hypertension?

Diuretics are a cornerstone in the management of hypertension, as they help to lower blood pressure by promoting the excretion of sodium and water from the body. This reduction in fluid volume decreases the workload on the heart and lowers blood pressure. By decreasing the amount of fluid in the bloodstream, diuretics can effectively reduce peripheral vascular resistance and help prevent complications associated with high blood pressure, such as heart disease and stroke.

Other classes of antihypertensive medications exist, such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers, but in the context of this question, diuretics specifically demonstrate a direct mechanism for managing hypertension. The other options provided do not serve the purpose of lowering blood pressure: steroids can increase blood pressure, antibiotics target infections rather than hypertension, and analgesics are used for pain relief without impacting blood pressure management.