Final answer:
For managing coronary artery disease at home, the effective teaching includes stopping activity and placing one nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue at the onset of chest pain, and seeking immediate medical attention if the pain is severe or persists. It is also important to store nitroglycerin properly.
Step-by-step explanation:
Managing Coronary Artery Disease at Home
Effective management of coronary artery disease (CAD) at home includes understanding the correct use of medications and recognizing when to seek medical assistance. For immediate treatment, particularly in cases of angina, nitroglycerin is administered sublingually (under the tongue) for rapid absorption. This vasodilator helps to improve blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle by relaxing the smooth muscles in the coronary vessels, alleviating chest pain due to ischemia.
For a patient like Mr. Ocampo, understanding the correct response to chest pain is critical. The teaching is effective when he states that if he experiences chest pain, he should stop activity and place one nitroglycerin tablet under his tongue (Option C). This is a standard immediate response to relieve chest pain from angina. It is also important to know that if chest pain persists or is severe, it's crucial to seek immediate medical attention; thus, contacting a physician immediately is also a proper response (Option A).
Concerning Option B, while it's practical for patients to keep their nitroglycerin accessible, a front pants pocket may not be the best place due to potential exposure to body heat, which can affect the medication's stability. Instead, it should be carried in a container in a cool, dry place. Finally, Option D is incorrect as the standard protocol calls for taking up to three nitroglycerin tablets at 5-minute intervals only if the pain does not subside after the first dose, not as a blanket rule.