A doctor is seeing a patient for complaints of pins and needles sensation to their left hand. Which of the following terms should the doctor indicate on their charting?

Choice A reason: Urinary retention, the inability to void, is caused by bladder or prostate issues, not dietary fiber intake. Fiber affects gastrointestinal motility, not urinary function. High-fiber diets promote bowel regularity but have no direct impact on bladder emptying, making this choice incorrect.

Choice B reason: High-fiber diets prevent constipation by adding bulk to stool and promoting peristalsis, facilitating regular bowel movements. Fiber absorbs water, softening stool and reducing straining, which is critical for patients with poor nutrition, like Mr. Green, making this the correct choice for dietary intervention.

Choice C reason: Stress incontinence, urine leakage during physical stress, results from weakened pelvic muscles or sphincter dysfunction, not dietary factors. Fiber influences bowel health, not bladder control, so this choice is unrelated to the preventive benefits of a high-fiber diet in gastrointestinal function.

Choice D reason: Hiatal hernia, where the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm, is linked to anatomical or pressure factors, not fiber intake. Fiber supports bowel regularity but does not address esophageal or diaphragmatic issues, making this choice irrelevant to the benefits of high-fiber diets.

Choice A reason: Painful urination, or dysuria, involves discomfort during voiding, often due to urinary tract infections or inflammation. It is not synonymous with nocturia, which specifically refers to frequent nighttime urination. Dysuria requires distinct clinical evaluation, including urinalysis, to identify causes like bacterial infection or urethral irritation, making this an incorrect description of the patient’s complaint.

Choice B reason: Nocturia is the medical term for frequent urination at night, disrupting sleep. In elderly patients, it may result from reduced bladder capacity, overactive bladder, or conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia. This matches the patient’s complaint, as it directly addresses the symptom without implying unrelated issues like pain or incontinence, making it the accurate choice.

Choice C reason: Bladder incontinence involves involuntary urine leakage, distinct from nocturia, which is voluntary urination at night. Incontinence may stem from neurological disorders or weakened pelvic muscles but does not describe the patient’s symptom of frequent nighttime voiding. This choice is incorrect, as it misaligns with the clinical presentation described.

Choice D reason: An inability to void, or urinary retention, is the opposite of nocturia, where the patient voids frequently. Retention may result from obstructions like an enlarged prostate or neurological issues, requiring catheterization or imaging for diagnosis. This choice does not reflect the patient’s symptom of active, frequent urination at night.