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High-intensity exercise is not advised for a 69-year-old on diuretics, as it risks dehydration or orthostatic hypotension. Moderate exercise is safer, making this incorrect, as the nurse should recommend appropriate activity levels to support, not strain, cardiovascular health.

A high-sodium diet counteracts diuretics by promoting fluid retention, raising blood pressure. A low-sodium diet enhances diuretic efficacy, making this incorrect, as the nurse should recommend sodium restriction to improve hypertension control and medication effectiveness.

Limiting fluid intake to 500 mL daily risks dehydration in a patient on diuretics, worsening hypotension or renal function. Adequate hydration is needed, making this incorrect, as the nurse should encourage balanced fluid intake to support safe diuretic therapy.

ACE inhibitors do not primarily lower heart rate; they block angiotensin II formation, reducing vasoconstriction and blood pressure. Lowering heart rate is more characteristic of beta blockers, which decrease cardiac output. This statement is incorrect, as ACE inhibitors primarily affect vascular tone, not heart rate, in hypertension management.

Increasing peripheral resistance would raise blood pressure, counteracting the goal of hypertension treatment. ACE inhibitors reduce peripheral resistance by inhibiting vasoconstriction, lowering blood pressure. This statement is incorrect, as it contradicts the vasodilatory effect of ACE inhibitors, which is essential for their therapeutic role in hypertension.

ACE inhibitors promote sodium excretion by reducing aldosterone production, not retention. Sodium retention increases blood volume and pressure, opposing their antihypertensive effect. This statement is incorrect, as ACE inhibitors decrease blood volume through natriuresis, contributing to blood pressure reduction in patients with hypertension.

Shiny skin is associated with peripheral arterial disease due to reduced blood flow causing trophic changes. Peripheral venous disease causes venous stasis, leading to swollen veins and edema, not shiny skin. This finding is incorrect, as it reflects arterial insufficiency rather than venous pathology in the lower extremities.

Diminished hair growth is characteristic of peripheral arterial disease, where reduced arterial flow impairs follicle nourishment. Peripheral venous disease causes edema and varicosities, not hair loss. This finding is incorrect, as it reflects arterial, not venous, pathology, making it irrelevant to the client’s condition.

Loss of pigmentation over the shin suggests arterial insufficiency or chronic venous stasis dermatitis with hyperpigmentation, not depigmentation. Peripheral venous disease typically causes brownish discoloration from hemosiderin. This finding is incorrect, as swollen veins are more specific to venous disease than pigmentation changes.

Headaches are not a primary side effect of niacin, which mainly causes flushing due to prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation. Headaches may occur with other lipid-lowering drugs or unrelated conditions but are less specific to niacin’s mechanism, making this an incorrect side effect to emphasize in client education.

Elevated heart rate is not a common side effect of niacin, which primarily causes flushing and gastrointestinal upset. Tachycardia may occur with other cardiovascular drugs or conditions but is not typical of niacin’s prostaglandin-driven effects, making this an incorrect side effect for client education.

Black, tarry stools indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, not a side effect of niacin. Niacin may cause mild gastrointestinal upset but not bleeding. This is more associated with anticoagulants or NSAIDs, making it an incorrect side effect to include in education for niacin therapy.

Increased mobility is beneficial for general health but must be cautious in heart failure to avoid overexertion, which can exacerbate cardiac strain and fluid overload. Dietary and fluid restrictions are more critical to manage volume status, making mobility a secondary focus in discharge teaching for heart failure.

Cessation of intravenous drug use is relevant for specific populations but not a general heart failure management strategy. It does not directly address fluid overload or cardiac workload, unlike dietary and fluid restrictions, making it an incorrect focus for routine discharge teaching in heart failure.

Cessation of hormonal supplements is not typically relevant to heart failure management unless specific hormones affect fluid balance or cardiac function. Dietary and fluid restrictions directly address the pathophysiology of fluid overload, making this an incorrect lifestyle modification for routine heart failure discharge teaching.

Not going barefoot is correct for peripheral vascular disease, as it protects feet from injury, especially with reduced sensation or circulation. This statement reflects understanding, as preventing trauma reduces infection risk and supports tissue integrity, requiring no further teaching for this aspect of care.

Using a thermometer to check bath water temperature is correct, as peripheral vascular disease reduces sensation, increasing burn risk. This statement reflects understanding of safety measures to protect skin integrity, requiring no further teaching, as it aligns with preventing thermal injury in affected limbs.

Avoiding crossing legs at the knees is correct, as it prevents compression of blood vessels, maintaining circulation in peripheral vascular disease. This statement shows understanding of proper positioning to avoid ischemia, requiring no further teaching, as it supports optimal blood flow management.

A cholesterol level of 200–239 mg/dL is borderline high, increasing atherosclerosis risk. A heart-healthy diet aims for levels below 200 mg/dL to minimize plaque formation and cardiovascular events. This range is suboptimal, making it incorrect for defining a heart-healthy cholesterol target.

Cholesterol levels greater than 200 mg/dL increase atherosclerosis risk, as excess lipids deposit in arterial walls, narrowing lumens and raising cardiovascular event risk. A heart-healthy diet targets levels below 200 mg/dL, making this an incorrect choice for optimal cardiovascular health.

A cholesterol level of 240–259 mg/dL is high, significantly increasing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease risk. A heart-healthy diet aims for levels below 200 mg/dL to prevent plaque buildup, making this range incorrect, as it represents a high-risk category requiring intervention.

Calcium deficiency causes muscle cramps or tetany, not pain relieved by rest. Intermittent claudication, pain during walking that resolves with rest, is characteristic of peripheral arterial disease, not hypocalcemia. This condition does not affect vascular flow, making it an incorrect suspicion for this symptom.

Acute vessel obstruction causes sudden, severe pain not relieved by rest, often with pallor or pulselessness, unlike intermittent claudication. The client’s pain relief with rest suggests chronic arterial insufficiency, making acute obstruction less likely than peripheral vascular disease as the suspected condition.

Diabetes mellitus contributes to peripheral vascular disease but is not the direct cause of claudication-like pain. Pain relieved by rest points to arterial insufficiency, not solely diabetes. Peripheral vascular problems better explain the symptoms, as diabetes is a risk factor, not the primary condition.

Increasing red meat intake is contrary to the DASH diet, which emphasizes lean proteins and limits saturated fats. Red meat raises cholesterol and blood pressure, worsening hypertension. This recommendation is incorrect, as it opposes the diet’s goal of reducing cardiovascular risk through healthier food choices.

Full-fat dairy products are high in saturated fats, increasing cholesterol and cardiovascular risk, contrary to the DASH diet’s emphasis on low-fat dairy. This choice raises blood pressure, making it incorrect, as the DASH diet promotes low-fat options to support hypertension control and heart health.

Avoiding all carbohydrates is not part of the DASH diet, which includes complex carbohydrates like whole grains for fiber and sustained energy. Eliminating carbohydrates risks nutritional imbalance and is not evidence-based for hypertension, making this an incorrect recommendation for Mr. Carter’s dietary plan.