Nutrition and Patient Wellness Education Flashcards
6 cards from real AMCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Nutrition and Patient Wellness Education flashcards as text
A physician orders a 'low-sodium diet' for a patient with hypertension. The medical assistant should educate the patient to limit daily sodium intake to no more than:
Answer: 2,300 mg
The American Heart Association and most clinical guidelines recommend limiting sodium to 2,300 mg per day for hypertension management, with a further reduction to 1,500 mg for higher-risk patients. The 2,300 mg threshold is the standard patient-education target.
Which macronutrient provides the body's PREFERRED source of energy?
Answer: Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, the body's primary and most readily available fuel source. Fats provide a dense secondary energy reserve, and protein is used for energy only when carbohydrate and fat stores are depleted.
A patient with celiac disease requires education about which dietary restriction?
Answer: Eliminating gluten-containing grains
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Strict, lifelong avoidance of these grains is the only effective treatment and must be emphasized during patient education.
Which vitamin is synthesized by the skin upon exposure to sunlight and is critical for calcium absorption?
Answer: Vitamin D
Vitamin D (cholecalciferol) is produced in the skin when exposed to UVB radiation. It is essential for intestinal calcium absorption and bone mineralization; deficiency leads to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
A diabetic patient asks about the glycemic index (GI). The medical assistant correctly explains that foods with a HIGH glycemic index:
Answer: Cause a rapid spike in blood glucose levels
High-GI foods are rapidly digested and absorbed, causing a quick and sharp rise in blood glucose. Diabetic patients are typically counseled to choose low-GI foods to achieve steadier blood sugar control.
A patient who is a strict vegan is at greatest risk for deficiency in which nutrient?
Answer: Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal products (meat, dairy, eggs). Vegans who do not supplement or eat fortified foods are at high risk for B12 deficiency, which can cause megaloblastic anemia and irreversible neurological damage.