Question

The nurse is reviewing the diet of a client who has been diagnosed with hypertension. The nurse recommends reducing or avoiding caffeine because caffeine:

a. increases the heart rate and causes vasoconstriction.
b. reduces the heart rate and leads to a coronary artery disease.
c. reduces the heart rate and causes low blood pressure.
d. increases the heart rate and causes angina.

Answer 1

Caffeine increases the heart rate and causes vasoconstriction (option a) , which is why it's recommended that individuals with hypertension avoid or reduce caffeine intake to better manage their blood pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is reviewing the diet of a client diagnosed with hypertension and recommends reducing or avoiding caffeine. The correct response to the question is that caffeine: a. increases the heart rate and causes vasoconstriction. Caffeine is known to have a stimulatory effect on cardiac centers, causing an increase in heart rate (HR). It works by increasing the rates of depolarization at the sinoatrial (SA) node. Increased heart rate coupled with vasoconstriction can lead to elevated blood pressure, which is not conducive for a hypertension patient.

By avoiding or reducing caffeine intake, individuals with hypertension might be able to manage their blood pressure more effectively, along with making other diet changes, exercising, and possibly taking medication as directed by a healthcare professional. Such changes can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases associated with persistent high blood pressure, including coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart failure.