An older man in a cardiac rehabilitation exercise class refuses to participate in the cool-down phase of the activity; consequently,2 minutes later,he passes out but quickly regains consciousness.Which instruction does the nurse include in patient teaching to reinforce the importance of cooling down after exercising to this man?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During exercise,the body shunts blood to the skeletal muscles to supply enough oxygen to meet the increased metabolic demands of the muscles.If the exercise is suddenly withdrawn,however,the blood temporarily pools in the skeletal muscles,and the older adult loses consciousness from transient hypotension.Baroreceptor responsiveness declines with age; therefore the body does not respond as readily to the need for changes in blood pressure.The cool-down period compensates for this effect.
An acute problem such as losing consciousness as a result of decreased cardiac output should appear during the "real" exercise.The man is mobile enough to participate in the exercise program.Gradual sensory alteration does not account for the acute episode.

An Older Man in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Class Refuses