Practice Question
A nurse is teaching a group of clients about risk factors for developing atrial fibrillation. Which of the following should be included in the teaching?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
History of thyroid disease
Rationale:
🟦 A history of thyroid disease, especially hyperthyroidism, increases the risk for atrial fibrillation because excess thyroid hormone stimulates the heart.
🟦 Increased thyroid hormone raises heart rate, increases myocardial oxygen demand, and heightens cardiac excitability, which promotes atrial irritability.
🟦 This overstimulation can trigger abnormal atrial electrical activity, leading to rapid, disorganized atrial conduction consistent with atrial fibrillation.
🟦 Clients with thyroid disease may also experience palpitations, heat intolerance, and weight changes, and atrial fibrillation may be one of the first cardiac clues.
🟦 Teaching should stress that controlling thyroid levels helps reduce arrhythmia risk and prevents complications like stroke from atrial fibrillation.
Family history of atrial fibrillation:
🟦Genetics can contribute, but nursing teaching focuses more on strong clinical and physiologic triggers like thyroid dysfunction and chronic cardiac conditions.
🟦A family history alone does not directly cause the electrical instability as predictably as endocrine-driven stimulation.
Living a sedentary lifestyle:
🟦Sedentary lifestyle increases cardiovascular risk broadly, but it is not a primary direct risk factor specifically emphasized for atrial fibrillation compared with thyroid and structural heart causes.
🟦It is more associated with obesity and hypertension as indirect contributors.
Recent influenza infection:
🟦Influenza can stress the body and cause tachycardia, but it is not a common teaching-point risk factor for atrial fibrillation.
🟦AF risk is more strongly associated with chronic conditions that alter conduction or cardiac workload.
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This question is from Custom-Harris Medsurg 2 Test 3 PN which contains 39 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: LPN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: LPN ATI Exams
- Domain: Medical-Surgical
- Answer Choices: 4