Question

A nurse is caring for a client with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) who asks the nurse, "Is there anything other than medication to help slow this disease?" What is the nurse's best response?

1) "Yoga has been shown to slow the progression of PVD."
2) "Aromatherapy has been shown to slow the progression of PVD."
3) "Garlic supplements have been shown to slow the progression of PVD."
4) "A diet high in protein has been shown to slow the progression of PVD."

Answer 1

To slow the progression of peripheral vascular disease, a patient should focus on regular exercise, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy diet low in sodium and saturated fats, and managing other health issues such as hypertension and diabetes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best non-medication interventions for slowing the progression of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) focus on lifestyle changes. These include:

• Regular exercise, ideally at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily, which improves overall cardiovascular health and can reduce the risk of heart attack by nearly 50%.
• Quitting smoking, as tobacco use is a significant risk factor for vascular disease.
• Adopting a healthy diet low in sodium and saturated fats.
• Managing other health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, through diet and medications as needed.

These lifestyle modifications are crucial in managing PVD and overall cardiovascular health, and can more effectively slow the disease's progression than options like yoga, aromatherapy, garlic supplements, or a high protein diet alone.