When teaching a client with coronary artery disease about nutrition, the nurse should emphasize:
A. Eating three (3) balanced meals a day
B. Adding complex carbohydrates
C. Avoiding very heavy meals
D. Limiting sodium to 7 gms per day
Correct Answer: C. Avoiding very heavy meals
Eating large, heavy meals can pull blood away from the heart for digestion and is dangerous for the client with coronary artery disease. Too much plaque may accumulate in the arteries and block the delivery of blood and oxygen in major organs of the body.
Option A: Eating a balanced diet should be a part of the management of a client with coronary artery disease.
Option B: Complex carbohydrates decrease inflammation and help decrease the risk of plaque build-up in the arteries.
Option C: People with cardiovascular diseases should have a limit of less than 1.5 grams per day.