A nurse is teaching the client's spouse about positioning the client to administer his enteral feedings.
Which of the following statements indicates the spouse needs further teaching?

Choice A rationale

Memory loss is more commonly associated with neurological conditions, vitamin B12 deficiency, or aging, rather than a lack of dietary fiber. Fiber primarily affects the digestive system and blood sugar control, not cognitive function.

Choice B rationale

Bleeding gums are typically a sign of vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) or poor oral hygiene leading to gingivitis. While overall nutrition is important for oral health, a lack of fiber specifically does not directly cause bleeding gums.

Choice C rationale

Brittle hair can be a symptom of various nutritional deficiencies, including protein, biotin, and iron, but it is not a primary indicator of inadequate fiber intake. Fiber mainly impacts bowel function and glucose metabolism.

Choice D rationale

Constipation, characterized by infrequent or difficult bowel movements, is a well-established consequence of inadequate dietary fiber intake. Fiber adds bulk to the stool, absorbs water, and facilitates peristalsis, the muscular contractions that move stool through the intestines. A lack of fiber can lead to harder, drier stools that are more difficult to pass. .

Choice A rationale

Trouble chewing foods such as meats and raw vegetables is more indicative of mechanical issues with chewing or dental problems rather than dysphagia, which primarily involves difficulty with swallowing. While chewing difficulties can sometimes coexist with dysphagia, the primary characteristic of dysphagia is impaired bolus transport from the mouth to the stomach.

Choice B rationale

Awakenings with a feeling of indigestion suggest issues related to gastric motility or acid reflux, not necessarily dysphagia. Indigestion involves discomfort in the upper abdomen, often related to the digestion of food in the stomach, whereas dysphagia is focused on the process of swallowing.

Choice C rationale

A feeling of choking after swallowing is a classic symptom of dysphagia. It indicates that food or liquid is not passing smoothly from the pharynx to the esophagus and may be entering the airway. This occurs due to impaired coordination or weakness of the muscles involved in swallowing.

Choice D rationale

Frequent burping, or eructation, is typically related to the release of excess gas from the stomach, often due to swallowed air or the breakdown of food. It is not a primary indicator of dysphagia, which is a disorder of the swallowing mechanism.