A nurse is educating a patient on proper hearing aid care and maintenance. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

Choice A Reason:

Administering propranolol intravenously is the most appropriate initial intervention for managing a thyroid storm. Thyroid storm is a life-threatening condition characterized by severe hyperthyroidism, leading to symptoms such as tachycardia, hypertension, and hyperthermia. Propranolol, a non-selective beta-blocker, helps control these symptoms by reducing heart rate and blood pressure. Additionally, propranolol inhibits the peripheral conversion of T4 to T3, the more active form of thyroid hormone, thereby reducing the overall thyroid hormone activity. This makes it a critical first step in stabilizing the patient.

Choice B Reason:

Administering dextrose 50% intravenously is not the most appropriate initial intervention for thyroid storm. Dextrose 50% is typically used to treat severe hypoglycemia by rapidly increasing blood glucose levels. While maintaining adequate glucose levels is important, it does not address the primary issue of excessive thyroid hormone activity in thyroid storm.

Choice C Reason:

Administering levothyroxine orally is inappropriate in the context of thyroid storm. Levothyroxine is a synthetic form of T4 used to treat hypothyroidism, not hyperthyroidism. Administering it in a thyroid storm would exacerbate the condition by increasing the levels of thyroid hormone in the body.

Choice D Reason:

Administering insulin to control hyperglycemia is not the primary intervention for thyroid storm. While hyperglycemia can occur in thyroid storm due to increased metabolic activity, the immediate priority is to control the excessive thyroid hormone activity. Insulin administration would be secondary to stabilizing the patient’s thyroid function.

Choice A Reason:

Night blindness, or difficulty seeing in low light, is not a primary symptom of macular degeneration. This condition primarily affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. Night blindness is more commonly associated with conditions like retinitis pigmentosa or vitamin A deficiency.

Choice B Reason:

Central vision loss is the hallmark of macular degeneration. This condition leads to the deterioration of the macula, causing blurred or lost central vision while peripheral vision remains intact. Patients often report difficulty reading, recognizing faces, and performing tasks that require fine visual detail3.

Choice C Reason:

Peripheral vision loss is not typically associated with macular degeneration. This condition affects the central part of the retina, leaving peripheral vision largely unaffected. Peripheral vision loss is more commonly seen in conditions like glaucoma.

Choice D Reason:

Double vision, or diplopia, is not a characteristic symptom of macular degeneration. This condition affects the clarity of central vision but does not typically cause double vision. Double vision can result from issues with the eye muscles or nerves, such as in cases of strabismus or cranial nerve palsies.