Question

The nurse is assessing a patient with heart disease. On assessing in detail, the nurse identifies the heart disease as a secondary illness. What is the most likely primary illness in the patient?

A) Hypertension
B) Diabetes
C) Respiratory infection
D) Liver cirrhosis

Answer 1

The nurse has likely identified hypertension as the primary illness causing heart disease, due to hypertension being a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and often occurring without noticeable symptoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a nurse has identified heart disease as a secondary illness, the most likely primary illness in the patient could be hypertension. This is because hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for heart disease. Elevated blood pressure puts extra strain on the heart, leading to increased wear and tear that can contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as heart failure, stroke, and other heart-related complications. Hypertension is often referred to as the silent killer because it typically has no symptoms, making it particularly dangerous.