What symptom do antiemetics primarily treat?

Antiemetics are specifically designed to combat nausea and vomiting, making them essential in managing symptoms associated with various conditions such as motion sickness, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and post-surgical nausea. These medications work by acting on different pathways in the body involved in the vomiting reflex, including the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract.

The primary focus of antiemetics is to alleviate the uncomfortable sensations and physical act of vomiting, ultimately improving the patient's overall comfort and ability to maintain hydration and nutritional intake. The other options—constipation, high blood pressure, and arrhythmia—are not directly addressed by antiemetics, which makes the choice of nausea and vomiting the correct focus for this class of medication.