To write optimized Node.js code that prevents performance issues and maintains responsiveness, you must prevent blocking the event loop.

Node.js operates on a single thread. As a result, any CPU-intensive or long-running synchronous operation, such as prolonged while loops or complex calculations, blocks the event loop. This blocking prevents other JavaScript code from processing. 

As mentioned in Node.js documentation, ensure that you never block the event loop. Each of your JavaScript callbacks must complete quickly.

This can lead to application unresponsiveness and severe performance issues.

Avoid blocking the event loop by:

• Using asynchronous operations: Employ async/await, Promises, and callback functions for operations that might take time. For example, I/O, network requests, and database queries.
• Offloading CPU-intensive tasks: If you have heavy computations, consider using worker threads or external services to prevent blocking the main thread.
• Keeping callbacks short: Ensure that your JavaScript callbacks complete quickly so that the event loop can process other tasks.
• Avoiding synchronous delays: Refrain from using while loops or sleep functions that intentionally delay execution.
• Optimizing code: Improve the efficiency of your algorithms and data structures to reduce execution time.

These principles help you to create a more responsive and performant Node.js application that functions reliably, especially in containerized environments such as Kubernetes.