The family of an elderly patient diagnosed with pulmonary edema asks the nurse what the diagnosis means. How should the nurse respond?
1. "It is too much fluid in the lungs.".
2. "It is a narrowing of the coronary vessels that causes the heart to stop working correctly.".
3. "It is a disorder that rarely affects individuals older than 60.".
4. "It is caused by working too hard when one is younger.".
1
Rationale 1: Pulmonary edema is the accumulation of excess fluid in the lungs caused by cardiac and noncardiac factors. Heart failure is often seen in individuals older than 65 and is a common cause of pulmonary edema in elders.
Rationale 2: A narrowing of the coronary vessels, i.e., a potential heart attack, could contribute to heart failure, which could cause pulmonary edema, but there is no evidence in this case that this is the cause.
Rationale 3: Heart failure is often seen in individuals older than 65 and is a common cause of pulmonary edema in elders.
Rationale 4: There is no evidence that pulmonary edema is related to an individual's work history earlier in life.
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