An 81-year-old transgender female with a history of depression and hyperlipidemia presents to your clinic for routine care. She endorses a history of smoking, currently smoking 1 pack per day, and occasionally drinks a glass of wine, although she denies illicit drug use. She reports she takes atorvastatin 20 mg and subcutaneous estrogen therapy.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Counseling on smoking cessation. Smoking is a major risk factor for numerous health issues such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, and cancer. Given the patient's age, history of smoking, and other risk factors like depression and hyperlipidemia, counseling on smoking cessation is crucial to improve her overall health and reduce the risk of future complications.
Choice A: Counseling on starting aspirin may be appropriate for some individuals based on their cardiovascular risk profile, but in this case, smoking cessation is a more urgent priority due to the direct impact of smoking on health.
Choice B: Counseling on alcohol cessation is important, but in this scenario, smoking cessation takes precedence due to the immediate and significant health risks associated with smoking.
Choice D: Counseling on mammogram is important for breast cancer screening, but addressing smoking cessation should be the primary focus given the patient's current health risks.
In summary, counseling on smoking cessation is the most critical intervention for this patient to improve her overall health