Name two major cardiovascular risk factors that should be addressed in nursing care.

• A. Hypertension and smoking.
• B. Obesity and lack of exercise.
• C. Hypertension and dyslipidemia.
• D. Diabetes and kidney disease.

Answer: (C)

The most impactful factors to address in nursing care are high blood pressure and abnormal lipid levels. Hypertension places extra strain on arteries and the heart, accelerating damage to vessel walls and increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease. By monitoring blood pressure, promoting adherence to antihypertensive therapy, and guiding lifestyle changes such as reducing sodium, losing weight if needed, and increasing physical activity, nurses help lower this risk.

Dyslipidemia, particularly elevated LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol, drives the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. This process narrows and hardens arteries, raising the likelihood of coronary artery disease and stroke. Nursing care focuses on lipid screening, supporting medication use when prescribed (like statins or other lipid-lowering agents), and encouraging dietary changes, weight management, and regular exercise to improve lipid profiles.

While other factors like obesity, lack of exercise, diabetes, and kidney disease also contribute to cardiovascular risk, controlling blood pressure and lipid levels generally yields the greatest reduction in cardiovascular events across diverse patient populations. So, the emphasis in nursing care is on assessing and managing hypertension and dyslipidemia, educating patients, and ensuring adherence to treatment plans.