To decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients, which measure is recommended by health care professionals?

The nurse should contact the provider and ask the patient if they are feeling light headed or dizzy.

Choice A is wrong because administering the medication could worsen the patient’s condition.Furosemide is a diuretic that can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and hypotension.The patient already has a low serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L, which is below the normal range of 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L.Giving furosemide could lower the potassium level further and increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias.The patient also has a significant drop in blood pressure from lying to sitting position, which indicates orthostatic hypotension.Giving furosemide could lower the blood pressure more and cause dizziness, fainting, or falls.

Choice D is wrong because encouraging the patient to get up quickly and walk around could also cause dizziness, fainting, or falls due to orthostatic hypotension.The patient should be advised to change positions slowly and carefully, and to avoid activities that require alertness until their blood pressure stabilizes.

Choice E is wrong because holding the medication without contacting the provider could delay the appropriate treatment for the patient’s fluid retention.The nurse should notify the provider of the patient’s vital signs, laboratory results, and symptoms, and follow their orders regarding the medication dosage or alternative therapy.

LDL cholesterol is sometimes called “bad” cholesterol because it can build up on the walls of the blood vessels and cause health problems, such as heart disease and stroke.High levels of LDL cholesterol raise your risk for cardiovascular disease. Therefore, decreasing LDL cholesterol levels can lower your risk and improve your health.

Choice A is wrong because increasing LDL cholesterol levels would have the opposite effect of decreasing them.It would increase your risk for cardiovascular disease and plaque buildup in your arteries.

Choice B is wrong because increasing HDL cholesterol levels is not enough to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease.HDL cholesterol is sometimes called “good” cholesterol because it can move LDL cholesterol from the blood to the liver, where it is broken down and removed from the body.

However, HDL cholesterol levels alone are not a good indicator of your cardiovascular health.You also need to consider your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Choice D is wrong because decreasing HDL cholesterol levels would also increase your risk for cardiovascular disease.HDL cholesterol helps to lower LDL cholesterol levels and protect your blood vessels from plaque buildup.

Therefore, decreasing HDL cholesterol levels would reduce this protective effect and make you more vulnerable to heart disease and stroke.

The ideal ranges for cholesterol levels are as follows:

• Total cholesterol: below 200 mg/dL

• LDL cholesterol: less than 100 mg/dL

• HDL cholesterol: above 40 mg/dL for men and above 50 mg/dL for women

You can lower your LDL cholesterol levels and increase your HDL cholesterol levels by making healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, managing stress and taking medication if prescribed by your doctor.