Question

A 40-year-old man newly diagnosed with hypertension is discussing risk factors with the nurse. The nurse talks about lifestyle changes with the patient and advises that the patient should avoid tobacco use. What is the rationale behind that advice to the patient?

a. Smoking directly causes high blood pressure.
b. Smoking increases the risk of heart disease.
c. Smoking causes obesity, which exacerbates hypertension.
d. Smoking increases cardiac output.

Answer 1

The nurse advises the patient to avoid tobacco use to reduce the risk of heart disease. Smoking contributes to cardiovascular issues by damaging blood vessels, increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and promoting clot formation, which are all detrimental to someone with hypertension.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse advises the patient to avoid tobacco use because smoking tobacco has a significant impact on cardiovascular health. One of the reasons is that smoking increases the risk of heart disease. It does this through several mechanisms, including narrowing and weakening blood vessels, increasing heart rate and blood pressure temporarily, and increasing clotting factors in the blood. These factors can contribute to atherosclerosis and ultimately increase the risks of heart attacks and strokes.

In the context of hypertension, avoiding tobacco use is crucial because any additional factors that strain the cardiovascular system can exacerbate the condition of high blood pressure. Smoking does not necessarily cause obesity, which is mentioned in one of the options, but it does have direct and significant effects on the heart and blood vessels that are detrimental to anyone with, or at risk for, hypertension.