In a patient showing inverted T waves on the ECG, what is the appropriate action to decrease the work of the heart?

In this scenario involving a patient with inverted T waves on the ECG, the most appropriate action to decrease the work of the heart is to administer oxygen by nasal cannula at 5 L/min. Providing supplemental oxygen can assist in ensuring that the heart receives adequate oxygen to function efficiently, particularly if there are underlying conditions causing myocardial ischemia. Increasing the oxygen supply can help improve overall heart function and decrease the workload on the heart.

The use of oxygen at a higher flow rate can be beneficial, especially if hypoxia is a concern. This is significant in situations where the heart is under stress and may not be receiving sufficient oxygen from the blood, which could exacerbate cardiac workload and lead to further complications.

Options involving medications like nitroglycerin can relieve angina by dilating blood vessels and decreasing preload or afterload but may not have a direct connection with addressing the work of the heart in the same way that optimizing oxygenation does. Similarly, digoxin is often used to improve cardiac contractility or control heart rate, but it carries the risk of increasing myocardial oxygen demand, which might not be suitable in this context. Providing oxygen at a lower flow rate may not meet the patient's increased needs effectively if they are experiencing significant distress or oxygen desaturation.