A nurse is caring for a client who has deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The client has received intravenous (IV) heparin for the past 5 days and now has a new prescription for oral warfarin in addition to the heparin. The client asks the nurse if both medications are necessary. Which of the following is an appropriate response by the nurse?

Choice A reason : The triglyceride level of 130 mg/dL is within the normal range, which is less than 150 mg/dL for adults. Therefore, this result does not place the client at risk for peripheral arterial disease.

Choice B reason : An HDL level of 84 mg/dL is considered good as it is higher than the minimum recommended level of 40 mg/dL for males and 50 mg/dL for females. Higher levels of HDL are protective against heart disease.

Choice C reason : A blood glucose level of 92 mg/dL is within the normal fasting range of 70 to 99 mg/dL. This indicates that the client does not have diabetes, which is a risk factor for peripheral arterial disease.

Choice D reason : An LDL level of 172 mg/dL is considered high since the optimal level for LDL is less than 100 mg/dL. High levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis, increasing the risk for peripheral arterial disease.

Choice A reason : A fixed volume deficit, or hypovolemia, is not a direct finding associated with bradycardia. Bradycardia refers to a slower than normal heart rate, typically below 60 beats per minute in adults⁸. Hypovolemia can cause various compensatory mechanisms to activate, including an increase in heart rate to maintain cardiac output, which is the opposite of bradycardia. Therefore, a fixed volume deficit is not a typical finding in bradycardia unless it is part of a broader clinical picture⁹.

Choice B reason : Anxiety is a condition that can sometimes lead to an increased heart rate, known as tachycardia, rather than a decreased heart rate as seen in bradycardia. While anxiety can coexist with bradycardia, especially if the patient is anxious about their health, it is not a direct symptom or finding of bradycardia itself⁹.

Choice C reason : Lightheadedness is a common symptom of bradycardia. When the heart rate is too slow, it may lead to inadequate cerebral perfusion, which can cause a feeling of lightheadedness or dizziness. This symptom can be particularly evident when the patient changes positions, such as standing up quickly, which can exacerbate the effects of reduced cardiac output on cerebral blood flow⁸⁹.

Choice D reason : An elevated temperature is not typically associated with bradycardia. Fever can actually lead to an increased heart rate as the body attempts to manage the higher metabolic demands associated with a raised temperature. Bradycardia in the presence of fever might indicate a more complex clinical scenario, such as myocarditis or central nervous system infections, but it is not a direct finding of bradycardia⁹.