A woman has recently been diagnosed with Raynaud’s disease.

What important information should the nurse provide to this patient?

Choice A rationale
Promoting a diet high in saturated fats is not a recommended strategy for preventing cardiovascular disease. Saturated fats can raise the level of cholesterol in your blood and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Choice B rationale
Advising smoking cessation is a crucial intervention in preventing cardiovascular disease. Chemicals in tobacco can damage the heart and blood vessels, leading to narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis can ultimately lead to a heart attack.
Choice C rationale
Regular blood pressure monitoring is important because high blood pressure is a significant risk factor for heart disease. It can cause the arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle to harden and narrow, leading to a heart attack.
Choice D rationale
Regular cholesterol screenings are essential because high levels of cholesterol can lead to the buildup of plaques in your arteries, increasing your risk of heart disease.
Choice E rationale
Encouraging regular physical exercise is a key strategy in preventing cardiovascular disease. Regular exercise helps control your weight and reduce your chances of developing other conditions that may put a strain on your heart, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

Choice A rationale
Orthostatic hypotension, a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down, would not typically cause severe chest pain or result in elevated levels of cardiac troponins I and T6.
Choice B rationale
Raynaud’s disease, a condition that causes some areas of your body — such as your fingers and toes — to feel numb and cold in response to cold temperatures or stress, would not typically cause severe chest pain or result in elevated levels of cardiac troponins I and T6.
Choice C rationale
Angina, a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, could cause severe chest pain, but it would not typically result in elevated levels of cardiac troponins I and T6. Elevated troponin levels are more indicative of damage to the heart muscle, which is not characteristic of angina.
Choice D rationale
A myocardial infarction (MI), also known as a heart attack, could cause severe chest pain and would typically result in elevated levels of cardiac troponins I and T7. Troponins are proteins found in the heart muscle, and levels can rise in the blood when there is damage to the heart, such as during an MI.