A nurse is providing dietary advice to a patient at risk for hypokalemia.
Which food should the nurse recommend as a good source of potassium?

Choice A rationale:

Circulatory overload, also known as hypervolemia or fluid overload, is a condition where the body has too much fluid. This excess fluid, especially in the circulatory system, can lead to a rapid heartbeat. This is because the heart needs to work harder to pump the increased volume of blood, leading to an increased heart rate.

Choice B rationale:

Weight loss is not typically associated with circulatory overload. In fact, quick weight gain might be observed due to the excess fluid in the body.

Choice C rationale:

Low blood pressure is not a common symptom of circulatory overload. On the contrary, high blood pressure can occur because the excess fluid in the circulatory system puts more pressure on the blood vessel walls.

Choice D rationale:

Excessive sweating is not a direct symptom of circulatory overload. However, symptoms such as shortness of breath and swelling in certain areas of the body are more common.

Choice A rationale:

The stool guaiac test does not check for bacteria in the feces. This test is used to detect hidden (occult) blood in a stool sample. It is the most common type of fecal occult blood test (FOBT)1.

Choice B rationale:

The stool guaiac test does not check for fat in the feces. The presence of fat in the feces is usually checked by a different test called a fecal fat test. The stool guaiac test is specifically designed to detect the presence of hidden blood in the stool.

Choice C rationale:

The stool guaiac test does not check for parasites in the feces. Parasites are typically detected using a stool ova and parasites (O&P) test. The stool guaiac test is used to detect hidden blood in the stool, which could be an indication of various conditions, including colon cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum.

Choice D rationale:

The stool guaiac test checks for hidden blood in the feces. This is the correct answer. The test can find blood even if you cannot see it yourself. Occult blood in the stool may indicate colon cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum, though not all cancers or polyps bleed. If blood is detected through a fecal occult blood test, additional tests may be needed to determine the source of the bleeding. The stool guaiac test can only detect the presence or absence of blood — it can’t determine what’s causing the bleeding.