Up to one-third of patients who take ACE inhibitors for hypertension report which symptom after beginning therapy?

Furosemide is a diuretic that lowers blood pressure and increases urine output. It also causes potassium loss, which can lead to hypokalemia (low potassium levels). The patient’s blood pressure is already low when sitting, and the serum potassium is below the normal range of 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L. Administering furosemide could worsen these conditions and cause adverse effects such as dehydration, dizziness, muscle weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, and renal impairment. Therefore, the nurse should contact the provider before giving the medication and report the vital signs and laboratory results.

Choice A. Administer medication is wrong because it could harm the patient as explained above.

Choice C. Hold medication until next dose is wrong because it does not address the underlying problem of fluid retention and hypokalemia.

The nurse should not delay notifying the provider about the patient’s condition.

Choice D. Check urine output before giving medication is wrong because it is not enough to ensure the patient’s safety.

The nurse should also check the blood pressure and serum potassium levels, which are more critical indicators of the patient’s status.

Diuretics are medicines that help the kidneys get rid of excess water and salt, which can ease the symptoms of heart failure, such as breathlessness and swelling.However, diuretics may have some side effects, such as loss of potassium, which can affect the heart and require regular blood tests and dietary changes.Diuretics can also cause other electrolyte abnormalities, such as hyponatremia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia, and metabolic alkalosis. Electrolyte disturbances can have serious consequences for the heart function and rhythm, as well as other organs.

Choice A is wrong because fluid retention is the opposite of what diuretics do.

Diuretics reduce fluid retention by increasing urine output and decreasing blood volume.

Choice B is wrong because hypotension is not a direct effect of diuretics on the heart, but rather a consequence of reduced blood volume and vasodilation.

Hypotension can occur with diuretic use, especially if the dose is too high or the patient is dehydrated, but it is not a specific condition caused by diuretics.

Choice C is wrong because hyperglycemia is not related to diuretics or heart failure.

Hyperglycemia is a condition of high blood sugar, which can be caused by diabetes or other factors.

Diuretics do not affect blood sugar levels directly, although some diuretics may interact with diabetes medications and affect their efficacy.