A nurse checks on a patient with Parkinson's disease who recently began taking levodopa (Dopar)
She finds the patient trying to get out of bed. The patient tells the nurse that every time she gets out of bed, she gets dizzy and light-headed. The nurse explains that this symptom is known as orthostatic hypotension, and she should instruct the patient to
a. maintain bed rest for at least 2 weeks.
b. sleep on her left side to improve her circulation.
c. lie down and put her feet up on pillows.
d. try increasing the salt and water in her diet.
ANS: D
Postural hypotension is common early in treatment. Hypotension can be reduced by increasing the intake of salt and water.
Postural hypotension can be easily treated with dietary changes, as well as by instructing the patient to rise slowly from lying to sitting to standing position. She does not need 2 weeks of bed rest.
Although sleeping on her left side may improve her circulation, it is not related to postural hypotension.
Lying down with the feet up is a more appropriate intervention for hypertension.
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