What action should a patient take when auscultating the carotid arteries?

When auscultating the carotid arteries, the patient should hold their breath to ensure an accurate assessment. This action minimizes any movement or noise that could interfere with the identification of abnormal sounds such as bruits, which may indicate turbulent blood flow or vascular issues. Holding the breath reduces the potential artifacts that could occur from normal breathing patterns, allowing the healthcare provider to get a clearer sound profile from the carotid arteries.

Other actions, such as speaking softly or taking deep breaths, would introduce additional sounds and movement, complicating the auscultation process. Lying down flat is not typically necessary in this assessment and may not provide the best positioning for clear auscultation of the carotid arteries. Therefore, the correct approach is for the patient to hold their breath, which is key to obtaining reliable findings during the examination.