Sodium-restricted diet is recommended in:

Appeared in: RML MAINS 2025

Explanation

A sodium-restricted diet is a primary therapeutic intervention for managing hypertension.
Excess sodium intake causes the body to retain water, which increases the total volume of blood in the circulatory system.
This increased blood volume raises blood pressure by putting more strain on the heart and blood vessels.
Limiting sodium helps to reduce fluid retention, thereby lowering blood volume and blood pressure, as supported by the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet guidelines.

Option A: The primary dietary focus for Diabetes Mellitus is managing carbohydrate and sugar intake to control blood glucose levels.
Option C: Dietary management for asthma focuses on identifying and avoiding specific food allergens or triggers that can provoke an attack.
Option D: Tuberculosis is a catabolic state causing wasting; the diet should be high in calories and protein to support the immune system and rebuild tissue.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Dietary management for chronic diseases as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in educating patients with hypertension about reading food labels to identify hidden sources of sodium and making healthier food choices.
Monitoring for signs of fluid retention (e.g., peripheral edema, weight gain, crackles in lungs) is a key nursing assessment for patients with hypertension.
What if? If a patient with hypertension develops end-stage renal disease (ESRD), their diet becomes even more restrictive, often requiring limitations on potassium, phosphorus, and fluids in addition to sodium.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept in the question stem, which is 'sodium-restricted diet'.
Next, consider the pathophysiology of each option and how diet influences it.
Recall the direct link between sodium, fluid retention, and blood pressure. High sodium intake contributes to high blood pressure.
Evaluate each option: Diabetes management focuses on blood sugar, Asthma on triggers, and Tuberculosis on calories/protein to combat wasting.
Conclude that hypertension is the condition directly managed by restricting sodium intake to control blood volume and pressure.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nutrition Kumud Khanna 2e pp. 320-322, 318-320, 321-323

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