Question

A 68-year-old client has been prescribed 81mg of aspirin daily after his annual check-up. The client has risk factors for cardiovascular disease but no current symptoms. The client asks the nurse why he should take the aspirin since he does not have arthritis. How should the nurse respond?

Select one:
a. "Aspirin therapy is recommended for clients who have cardiovascular risk factors because it helps to lower blood pressure and vascular resistance. This will help to prevent bleeding in the small vessels."
b. "This dose of aspirin will prevent arthritis symptoms from occurring and help to prevent joint pain later as you age."
c. "Low dose aspirin is recommended for you because it can prevent your platelets from clumping. This will reduce your risk for heart attack or stroke."
d. "The health care provider must have made a mistake. Let me double check on that for you."

Answer 1

The nurse should explain that low dose aspirin is recommended to prevent platelet clumping and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should respond with option c. "Low dose aspirin is recommended for you because it can prevent your platelets from clumping. This will reduce your risk for heart attack or stroke." Aspirin is commonly prescribed to individuals with cardiovascular risk factors, as it helps to prevent blood clots by inhibiting the aggregation of platelets. This reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke.