Which administration strategy can a patient implement to reduce flushing, the most common adverse effect of niacin therapy?

This is because nitroglycerin patches can cause tolerance if they are used continuously, which reduces their effectiveness in preventing angina attacks. Removing the patch each evening allows the body to restore its sensitivity to the drug.

Choice A is wrong because nitroglycerin patches should be applied every 24 hours, not every 48 hours.

Applying a new patch every 48 hours would result in inadequate blood levels of the drug and increased risk of angina.

Choice B is wrong because nitroglycerin patches should not be cut in half or altered in any way.

Cutting the patch would compromise the integrity of the drug delivery system and could lead to unpredictable or excessive doses of the drug.

Choice C is wrong because nitroglycerin patches should not be taken off for 30 minutes if a headache occurs.

Headache is a common side effect of nitroglycerin due to its vasodilating action, but it usually subsides with continued use.

Taking off the patch for 30 minutes could increase the risk of angina by interrupting the steady blood levels of the drug.

The nurse should advise the client to take an analgesic such as acetaminophen for headache relief.

HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein, which is a type of cholesterol that carries excess cholesterol from other parts of the body to the liver, where it can be removed.

HDL is sometimes called “good” cholesterol because it helps protect against heart disease.Having high HDL levels is not a characteristic of metabolic syndrome, but rather a protective factor.

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.These conditions include:

• Low HDLs (choice A): Having low levels of HDL cholesterol is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome, as it means there is less “good” cholesterol to remove excess cholesterol from the blood vessels.

• Type II diabetes mellitus (choice B): This is a condition where the body does not use insulin properly, leading to high blood sugar levels.

Insulin is a hormone that helps the cells take up glucose from the blood.

Insulin resistance is a key feature of metabolic syndrome.

• Hypertension (choice C): This means having high blood pressure, which can damage the heart and blood vessels over time.

High blood pressure is often associated with obesity and insulin resistance, which are common in metabolic syndrome.

• Abdominal obesity (choice E): This means having excess fat around the waist and trunk, also known as central or visceral obesity.

This type of fat is more harmful than fat in other parts of the body, as it can release inflammatory substances that affect the metabolism and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Hyperglycemia (choice F): This means having high blood sugar levels, which can damage the blood vessels and organs over time.

Hyperglycemia can result from insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, which are both components of metabolic syndrome.

The normal ranges for some of these conditions are:

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

• Blood pressure: less than 120/80 mmHg

• Blood sugar: less than 100 mg/dL after fasting or less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating

• Waist circumference: less than 40 inches for men and less than 35 inches for women