A nurse is educating a client with a history of pulmonary embolism on lifestyle modifications to reduce the risk of recurrence. Which of the following recommendations is appropriate?

A) Incorrect. tPA therapy is not primarily used for pain relief but rather for clot dissolution.

B) Incorrect. While improving lung function and oxygenation is a goal in treating pulmonary embolism, tPA's primary purpose is to dissolve existing blood clots.

C) Correct. tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) is a thrombolytic agent used to break down and dissolve existing blood clots in the pulmonary arteries, improving blood flow.

D) Incorrect. tPA is not used to prevent the formation of new blood clots but rather to treat existing clots.

A) Correct. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is often used as an initial screening tool for pulmonary embolism, as it provides detailed images of the pulmonary arteries.

B) Incorrect. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used in some cases but is less commonly employed as an initial screening tool for pulmonary embolism.

C) Incorrect. Chest X-ray is typically not sensitive enough to diagnose pulmonary embolism directly but may show other related findings, such as an enlarged heart or lung abnormalities.

D) Incorrect. Electrocardiogram (ECG) may help identify signs of right heart strain or dysfunction caused by a pulmonary embolism but is not a primary diagnostic tool for detecting emboli in the pulmonary arteries.