The health care provider recommends daily fiber supplements for an elderly client who is experiencing frequent constipation. What statement is important for the nurse to include when educating a client about these supplements?
Bulk-forming agents decrease the absorption of nutrients in the intestines so you will need a daily vitamin
Fiber can exacerbate your constipation if you do not drink at least 8 glasses of water daily
If you take fiber long term, you can become dependent on it to have a bowel movement
Your bowel regimen will improve if you delay responding to your urge to defecate
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Bulk-forming fiber supplements, like psyllium, increase stool bulk without significantly decreasing nutrient absorption. While high doses may slightly affect mineral uptake, routine vitamin supplementation is not required. This statement is inaccurate, as nutrient malabsorption is not a primary concern with fiber supplements.
Choice B reason: Fiber supplements require adequate hydration (at least 8 glasses of water daily) to swell and soften stool, promoting bowel movements. Insufficient water can cause fiber to harden, worsening constipation. This statement is accurate, as hydration is critical for the efficacy and safety of fiber supplements.
Choice C reason: Long-term fiber use does not cause dependency; it mimics natural dietary fiber, promoting regular bowel movements. The colon adapts to increased bulk without losing intrinsic motility. This statement is inaccurate, as fiber supports, not undermines, normal bowel function in chronic use.
Choice D reason: Delaying the urge to defecate can worsen constipation by causing stool to harden and reducing rectal sensitivity. Prompt response to bowel urges promotes regularity. This statement is inaccurate, as it contradicts the goal of improving bowel regimen with fiber supplementation.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Excessive bile acid absorption, often due to ileal dysfunction, reduces bile acid availability in the gallbladder, promoting cholesterol supersaturation and gallstone formation. This contributes to cholelithiasis, particularly cholesterol gallstones, by altering bile composition, making this condition a significant risk factor, not the least likely.
Choice B reason: Elevated serum calcium (hypercalcemia) is not directly linked to cholelithiasis. While hypercalcemia can cause kidney stones, gallstone formation is driven by bile composition changes, like cholesterol or bile acid imbalances, not serum calcium levels. This makes it the least likely contributor to gallstone development.
Choice C reason: Elevated dietary cholesterol increases hepatic cholesterol secretion into bile, leading to supersaturation and cholesterol gallstone formation. This is a well-established risk factor for cholelithiasis, as excess cholesterol overwhelms bile acid and phospholipid solubilization, promoting crystal formation, making it a significant contributor, not the least likely.
Choice D reason: Inflammation of epithelial tissue, such as in chronic cholecystitis, promotes gallstone formation by altering gallbladder motility and bile stasis. Inflammatory changes disrupt bile acid metabolism and increase mucin production, facilitating stone nucleation. This condition is a known risk factor for cholelithiasis, not the least likely contributor.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, not primarily an inflammatory disease. While low-grade inflammation may be present in some cases, IBS is characterized by altered gut motility and visceral hypersensitivity without significant inflammatory markers, unlike inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. This statement is inaccurate.
Choice B reason: Stress is a well-documented trigger for IBS symptoms. The brain-gut axis, involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, modulates gut motility and sensitivity. Psychological stress can exacerbate visceral pain, diarrhea, or constipation by altering neurotransmitter release and gut microbiome interactions, making this statement accurate for IBS pathophysiology.
Choice C reason: IBS treatment focuses on symptom relief, as there is no cure. Strategies include dietary modifications (e.g., low FODMAP diet), antispasmodics, laxatives, or antidiarrheals to manage pain, bloating, and bowel irregularities. This statement is accurate, reflecting the symptomatic approach to improving quality of life in IBS patients.
Choice D reason: IBS symptoms commonly include constipation, diarrhea, or alternating patterns, along with abdominal pain and bloating. These result from dysregulated gut motility and visceral hypersensitivity, affecting the enteric nervous system. This statement is accurate, as variable bowel habits are a hallmark of IBS diagnostic criteria.
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