A health screening form shows several data points. Which piece of information alerts the nurse that the client is at risk for stroke?

• A. The client’s temperature is 98.6°F
• B. The client’s weight is within normal range
• C. The client’s fasting glucose is normal
• D. The client’s blood pressure runs about 170/96

Answer: (D)

Elevated blood pressure is the strongest, most immediate red flag for stroke risk on a health screening. A reading around 170/96 shows hypertension, which over time damages blood vessels, accelerates atherosclerosis, and raises the likelihood of both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. This single data point signals a need for prompt follow-up—verifying the reading, assessing cardiovascular risk, and initiating management to reduce stroke risk. In contrast, a normal temperature, normal weight, and normal fasting glucose do not indicate an acute increase in stroke risk the way significantly elevated blood pressure does, so they don’t carry the same weight in signaling risk on a screening form.