The nurse explains the action of laxatives as doing what?

A) Eustress:
Eustress refers to positive or beneficial stress that motivates individuals to achieve goals, enhance performance, and promote growth. While eustress plays a role in overall well-being, it does not specifically describe the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

B) Homeostasis:
This is the correct answer. Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to maintain stable internal conditions despite external changes. It involves a dynamic equilibrium that allows various physiological processes to function optimally. The balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems contributes to maintaining homeostasis by regulating functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and respiratory rate.

C) Power:
Power typically refers to the ability to exert influence or control over others or situations. While power dynamics may play a role in various aspects of human interaction, it is not specifically related to the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

D) Strength:
Strength refers to the physical or mental capacity to withstand stress or exertion. While strength is important for overall health and resilience, it does not specifically describe the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

A) Lifestyle modification, including exercise, diet, and decreased smoking and alcohol intake:
This statement is accurate. Lifestyle modifications are essential components of hypertension management and are recommended as the first step in treatment. These modifications include regular physical activity, adopting a heart-healthy diet such as the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, reducing sodium intake, limiting alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking. These changes can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.

B) Use of diuretic, beta-blocker, or ACE inhibitor to supplement lifestyle changes:
This statement is also accurate. If lifestyle modifications alone are insufficient to achieve blood pressure control, pharmacotherapy may be initiated. The choice of antihypertensive medications depends on various factors, including the individual's comorbidities, medication tolerance, and response to treatment. Diuretics, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors are commonly used as first-line agents in the management of hypertension, either as monotherapy or in combination with other drugs.

C) All of the above:
This statement is correct. The stepped-care approach to hypertension management involves a combination of lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy. Lifestyle changes are typically recommended as the initial step, followed by the addition of antihypertensive medications if necessary to achieve target blood pressure goals. Therefore, both lifestyle modifications and pharmacological interventions are integral components of the stepped-care approach.

D) A combination of antihypertensive drug classes to achieve desired control:
While this statement is true, it does not encompass all aspects of the stepped-care approach. The use of combination therapy with multiple antihypertensive drug classes may be necessary in some cases to achieve optimal blood pressure control. However, it is only one component of the broader treatment strategy, which also includes lifestyle modifications as the foundation of therapy. Therefore, while combination therapy is important, it does not fully represent the stepped-care approach on its own.