What manifestation is expected in a person with Addison's disease?

Choice A reason: Taking pain medications manages symptoms of a sickling crisis but does not prevent it. Sickle cell crises occur due to hemoglobin S polymerization, triggered by hypoxia or dehydration, not directly prevented by analgesics, making this choice incorrect for prevention.

Choice B reason: Avoiding high altitudes reduces hypoxia, a trigger for sickling crises, as low oxygen levels promote hemoglobin S polymerization. While helpful, dehydration is a more significant and common trigger, making this choice less critical than avoiding dehydration.

Choice C reason: A high-protein, high-fat diet does not directly prevent sickling crises. Nutritional balance supports overall health, but sickle cell crises are triggered by dehydration, hypoxia, or infection, not dietary composition, making this choice incorrect for crisis prevention.

Choice D reason: Avoiding dehydration is critical in sickle cell anemia, as low fluid levels increase blood viscosity, promoting hemoglobin S polymerization and red cell sickling. This triggers vaso-occlusive crises, so maintaining hydration prevents these events, making this the correct choice.

A. Hernia causes mechanical bowel obstruction by physically trapping or compressing the intestine, preventing content passage. This aligns with the patient’s hernia, creating a structural blockage consistent with clinical findings.

B. Hypokalemia leads to functional bowel obstruction by disrupting intestinal motility through electrolyte imbalances, impairing muscle contractions without physical blockage. This matches the patient’s hypokalemia, exacerbating adynamic ileus.

C. Anesthesia from surgery causes functional bowel obstruction by slowing intestinal peristalsis, often resulting in postoperative ileus. This aligns with the patient’s recent anesthesia exposure, disrupting coordinated muscle contractions.

D. Intestinal tumor results in mechanical bowel obstruction by physically blocking or compressing the intestinal lumen, impeding content flow. The patient’s tumor aligns with this mechanism, a common cause of mechanical obstruction.

E. Pancreatitis contributes to functional bowel obstruction by causing inflammation or retroperitoneal irritation, leading to adynamic ileus without physical blockage. This matches the patient’s pancreatitis, disrupting intestinal motility.

F. Adhesions cause mechanical bowel obstruction by forming fibrous bands that kink or compress the intestine, blocking content passage. The patient’s adhesion history aligns with this, a leading cause of small bowel obstruction