A client with long-standing hypertension asks the nurse about the potential complications of the condition. Which complication should the nurse recognize as a result of hypertensive nephropathy?

A) Correct answer. Age is a non-modifiable risk factor for hypertension. As individuals get older, the risk of developing hypertension increases.

B) This option is incorrect. A sedentary lifestyle is a modifiable risk factor for hypertension, as regular physical activity can help lower blood pressure.

C) This option is incorrect. High sodium intake is a modifiable risk factor for hypertension. Reducing sodium intake can help prevent and manage hypertension.

D) This option is incorrect. Obesity is a modifiable risk factor for hypertension. Weight reduction through lifestyle changes can contribute to blood pressure control.

A) This option is incorrect. Visual disturbances are more commonly associated with hypertensive crises, not arterial damage.

B) This option is incorrect. Peripheral neuropathy is not a common complication of hypertension.

C) This option is incorrect. Peripheral edema is often associated with heart failure, not arterial damage resulting from hypertension.

D) Correct answer. Atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in the arteries, is a common complication of uncontrolled hypertension. Hypertension can cause chronic damage to the blood vessel walls, promoting the development of atherosclerotic plaques, which further narrows and stiffens the arteries.