Question

A dental hygienist records a client's blood pressure as 165/96 mm Hg. Professional responsibility and current guidelines of the American Heart Association require that the hygienist?

Answer 1

A dental hygienist should inform the patient with a blood pressure reading of 165/96 mm Hg about the high level, recommend medical consultation, and consider the safety of proceeding with dental treatment due to potential health risks associated with stage 2 hypertension.

Step-by-step explanation:

The blood pressure reading of 165/96 mm Hg suggests the patient has stage 2 hypertension, according to the guidelines given by the American Heart Association. A dental hygienist, upon recording this elevated blood pressure, has a professional responsibility to inform the patient about the high reading and recommend seeking medical consultation. The hygienist may also need to assess whether it is safe to proceed with dental treatment or if the treatment should be postponed until the blood pressure is under control.

It is important to understand that optimal blood pressure levels typically indicated are below 120/80 mm Hg, with anything above that considered elevated. A systolic blood pressure of 165 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure of 96 mm Hg exceed the threshold and indicate a health risk that requires attention. The systolic pressure (the first number) indicates the force exerted when the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries, whereas the diastolic pressure (the second number) is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats.