Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

What risk does a soft bruit over the carotid area increase in a patient with hypertension?

1. Temporal arteritis and brain aneurysms

2. Dizziness and headaches

3. Abdominal aneurysm and congestive heart failure

4. Stroke and coronary heart disease

The correct answer is: Stroke and coronary heart disease

A soft bruit over the carotid area in a patient with hypertension is indicative of turbulent blood flow, which often suggests the presence of arterial narrowing or stenosis. In this context, such vascular changes can significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular events, particularly stroke and coronary heart disease. Hypertension is a major risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, which can lead to the formation of plaques in the carotid arteries. These plaques can restrict blood flow and increase the likelihood of thrombus formation, which may subsequently cause an ischemic stroke if a thrombus embolizes to cerebral circulation. Additionally, the presence of a bruit can indicate compromised arterial integrity that predisposes the individual to coronary heart disease due to the similar mechanisms of compromised blood flow to the heart. The other options do not directly relate to the implications of a soft carotid bruit in the specific scenario of a patient with hypertension, as they address different conditions or organs, which reduces their relevance in this context. Thus, recognizing the association between carotid bruits, hypertension, and the resultant stroke and coronary heart disease risk is critical for clinical assessment and patient management.