A client has been experiencing occasional episodes of constipation and has been unable to achieve consistent relief by increasing physical activity and improving the client's diet. When introducing the client to the use of laxatives, what teaching should the nurse emphasize?

A. The risk of fecal incontinence: Fecal incontinence is not a common side effect of occasional or appropriate laxative use. It is more associated with misuse or overuse, especially of stimulant laxatives, but not the primary concern in initial client teaching. B. The risk of becoming laxative-dependent: Chronic use of laxatives, especially stimulant types, can lead to dependency where the bowel loses its ability to function properly without pharmacologic stimulation. Clients should be taught to use laxatives only as a temporary aid. C. The effect of laxatives on BUN and Creatinine: Laxatives generally do not directly affect kidney function markers such as BUN and creatinine unless used excessively and cause dehydration or electrolyte imbalance. This is not a primary point in general laxative education. D. The underlying causes of constipation: While it's important to consider causes like low fiber intake or decreased mobility, this is part of the broader assessment rather than the key teaching point when initiating laxative use.