A middle-aged man has multiple small blood-red raised lesions on his chest. He is concerned it may indicate a dangerous condition. What should you do?

The most appropriate action in this scenario is to reassure the patient, as multiple small blood-red raised lesions on the chest, often described as cherry angiomas or seborrheic keratoses, are typically benign skin conditions that commonly appear with aging. It is vital to provide this reassurance to alleviate the patient's anxiety about the possibility of a serious condition.

Providing education on the nature of these lesions, their commonality, and that they usually do not signify any underlying health risks can help the patient feel more at ease. Monitoring such lesions over time may be advisable, but immediate invasive procedures or extensive interventions may not be necessary unless specific concerning changes occur.

The other options suggest more aggressive or involved approaches, which may not be warranted at this initial assessment stage. For instance, ordering lab work or gathering extensive histories might be suitable response strategies in cases where more severe symptoms or risk factors are present, but they are not the first necessary steps for what appears to be a benign skin condition. Similarly, a skin biopsy would typically be reserved for lesions that raise suspicion for malignancy or other serious pathologies, which does not seem to be indicated in this case.