The nurse is teaching a patient with heart failure about dietary modifications to reduce fluid retention and improve cardiac function. Which of the following foods should the nurse advise the patient to limit or avoid?

Digoxin (Lanoxin) is a cardiac glycoside that is used to treat atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

It works by increasing the force of cardiac contraction and slowing down the heart rate.

However, digoxin can also cause toxicity, which can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias.

One of the risk factors for digoxin toxicity is hypokalemia, or low serum potassium level.

Potassium is an electrolyte that is essential for normal cardiac function and conduction.When the serum potassium level is low, digoxin binds more strongly to the cardiac cells and increases its effects, which can result in bradycardia, heart block, or ventricular tachycardia.

Therefore, the nurse should monitor the serum potassium level to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of digoxin therapy.

Choice B) Serum sodium level is wrong because sodium is not directly related to digoxin action or toxicity.

Sodium is another electrolyte that is important for fluid balance and blood pressure regulation.However, sodium does not affect the binding of digoxin to the cardiac cells or its effects on the heart rate and contractility.

Therefore, the nurse does not need to monitor the serum sodium level to evaluate digoxin therapy.

Choice C) Serum magnesium level is wrong because magnesium is not directly related to digoxin action or toxicity.

Magnesium is another electrolyte that is involved in many enzymatic reactions and neuromuscular function.However, magnesium does not affect the binding of digoxin to the cardiac cells or its effects on the heart rate and contractility.

Therefore, the nurse does not need to monitor the serum magnesium level to evaluate digoxin therapy.

Choice D) Serum calcium level is wrong because calcium is not directly related to digoxin action or toxicity.

Calcium is another electrolyte that is essential for bone health and muscle contraction.However, calcium does not affect the binding of digoxin to the cardiac cells or its effects on the heart rate and contractility.

Therefore, the nurse does not need to monitor the serum calcium level to evaluate digoxin therapy.

The normal range for serum potassium level is 3.5-5.0 mEq

This is because metoprolol is a beta blocker, which can block the beta-2 receptors in the lungs and cause constriction of the airways.This can lead to breathing problems such as shortness of breath, cough, and wheezing. Bronchospasm is more likely to occur in people who have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Choice A is wrong because tachycardia, or fast heart rate, is not an adverse effect of metoprolol. In fact, metoprolol can lower the heart rate by blocking the beta-1 receptors in the heart.A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm).Metoprolol can cause bradycardia, or slow heart rate, which can be a serious side effect if it is too low.

Choice B is wrong because hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, is not an adverse effect of metoprolol. Metoprolol does not affect the insulin secretion or glucose metabolism in the body.A normal blood sugar level for adults without diabetes is less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) two hours after eating. Metoprolol can cause hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, in people who have diabetes and take insulin or other glucose-lowering medications.This is because metoprolol can mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as palpitations and tremors.

Choice D is wrong because hyperkalemia, or high potassium, is not an adverse effect of metoprolol. Metoprolol does not affect the potassium balance in the body.

A normal blood potassium level for adults is 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L)