While assessing an older adult client, the nurse notes that the client has old and new ecchymotic areas on the extremities and buttocks upon admission. The client states to the nurse in confidence that the family members frequently hit him. Which therapeutic statement should the nurse communicate in response?

Choice A reason: Beta blockers are medications that can slow the heart rate, leading to sinus bradycardia. They are often prescribed for managing hypertension, arrhythmias, and other cardiovascular conditions. They work by blocking the effects of adrenaline on the heart, which reduces heart rate and blood pressure.

Choice B reason: Fever typically causes an increase in heart rate (tachycardia) rather than a decrease. The body's metabolic rate increases to fight infection, resulting in a higher heart rate.

Choice C reason: Athletism can result in sinus bradycardia because athletes often have a lower resting heart rate due to the increased efficiency of their cardiovascular system. Their hearts pump more effectively, requiring fewer beats per minute to circulate blood throughout the body.

Choice D reason: Sleeping naturally leads to a slower heart rate due to the relaxation of the body and reduced metabolic demands during rest. Sinus bradycardia during sleep is generally considered normal and not a cause for concern.

Choice A reason: Consuming a high purine diet is not related to myasthenic crisis. High purine diets are more commonly associated with conditions like gout, where uric acid levels become elevated.

Choice B reason: Taking too much of their medication can lead to a cholinergic crisis, not a myasthenic crisis. A cholinergic crisis occurs due to excessive accumulation of acetylcholine, often from overmedication with anticholinesterase drugs.

Choice C reason: Taking too little of the prescribed medication is the primary precipitating factor for a myasthenic crisis. Inadequate levels of medication lead to insufficient acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions, causing severe muscle weakness and potentially life-threatening respiratory failure. This situation requires immediate medical intervention to stabilize the patient.

Choice D reason: Taking medication on an empty stomach may affect absorption rates, but it is not a direct precipitating factor for a myasthenic crisis. The crisis is more closely linked to under-medication or missed doses of anticholinesterase drugs.