A nurse is caring for an 83-year-old client who asks for a warm blanket despite the room temperature being 80°F. The nurse understands that which of the following physiological changes experienced by older adults makes it more difficult for them maintain their body temperature?
Decline in estrogen production
Increased blood pressure
Decreased muscle strength and tone
Decreased subcutaneous fat
The Correct Answer is D
A. Estrogen's role in temperature regulation is not as significant as other factors in the context of aging and body temperature maintenance.
B. Increased blood pressure itself does not directly influence the ability to maintain body temperature. While hypertension can have various effects on cardiovascular health, it is not a primary factor in the regulation of body temperature in older adults.
C. Decreased muscle strength and tone are significant factors affecting temperature regulation. Muscle activity generates heat, and a decline in muscle mass and strength can impair the body’s ability to generate and maintain adequate warmth.
D. Decreased subcutaneous fat is a key factor in temperature regulation. Subcutaneous fat acts as an insulator, helping to retain body heat. As people age, they often experience a decrease in subcutaneous fat, which reduces their ability to insulate and maintain body heat effectively.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Bradycardia, or a slow heart rate, is not typically associated with thyrotoxic crisis. In fact, thyrotoxic crisis usually causes tachycardia (rapid heart rate) due to the body's heightened metabolism and sympathetic nervous system stimulation.
B. Hypotension, or low blood pressure, is not characteristic of a thyrotoxic crisis. The condition typically causes hypertension (elevated blood pressure) as part of the body's stress response and increased metabolic rate.
C. Hyperthermia, or elevated body temperature, is a key sign of thyrotoxic crisis. The condition leads to a hypermetabolic state that can significantly increase body temperature. This high fever is a result of the body's excessive heat production due to the overstimulation of metabolic processes.
D. Constipation is not typically associated with thyrotoxic crisis. In hyperthyroidism, and consequently in thyrotoxic crisis, patients usually experience diarrhea or increased bowel movements due to the increased metabolic rate and gastrointestinal motility.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Otitis media is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear. This condition primarily affects the middle ear structures and can cause conductive hearing loss, which is due to problems with sound transmission through the outer or middle ear.
B. An injury to the eardrum, such as a perforation, can lead to conductive hearing loss. This occurs because the eardrum (tympanic membrane) is crucial for transmitting sound waves from the outer ear to the middle ear. While an eardrum injury affects sound transmission, it does not directly damage the inner ear or auditory nerve, so it does not typically cause sensorineural hearing loss.
C. Exposure to loud noise is a common cause of sensorineural hearing loss. Prolonged or intense noise exposure can damage the sensory hair cells in the cochlea or the auditory nerve pathways, leading to permanent hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is due to damage in the inner ear or auditory nerve rather than the outer or middle ear structures.
D. Impacted earwax can cause conductive hearing loss by blocking sound transmission through the ear canal. This type of hearing loss is due to a blockage and is usually reversible once the wax is removed. It does not cause sensorineural hearing loss, which involves damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve.
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