A nurse is assessing a client who complains of a burning sensation in the chest. Assessment reveals heartburn. What may have led to the development of heartburn?

A) Inadequate closure of lower esophageal sphincter
B) Improper relaxation of the internal anal sphincter
C) Impaired closure of the ileocecal valve
D) Partial relaxation of the pyloric sphincter


A
Feedback:
Heartburn results from inadequate closure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). As waves of peristalsis push food through the lower esophagus, the cardiac sphincter, or LES, opens to allow food to enter and closes to keep food in the stomach. If the LES does not close adequately, the contents of the stomach can reenter the esophagus. The stomach contents contain gastric juices that are acidic. When these substances reenter the esophagus, a burning sensation can occur, resulting in heartburn. Improper relaxation of the internal anal sphincter will result in constipation. Impaired closure of the ileocecal valve and partial relaxation of the pyloric sphincter will not cause heartburn.

Nursing

You might also like to view...

A patient with heart failure cannot take ACE inhibitors because of cough. What drugs can be used as an alternative to ACE inhibiters?

A) Calcium channel blockers B) Loop diuretics C) Anti-hypertensives D) Angiotensin II receptor blockers

Nursing

To determine the cultural influence on a patient's diet, the nurse should first

a. Evaluate the patient's weight gain during pregnancy. b. Assess the socioeconomic status of the patient. c. Discuss the four food groups with the patient. d. Identify the food preferences and methods of food preparation common to that culture.

Nursing

A nurse is assessing pain on a 12-year-old child. Which pain assessment tools are developmentally appropriate for the nurse to use? Select all that apply

a. CRIES pain scale b. Numeric Rating Scale c. Visual Analog Scale d. FLACC e. Adolescent and Pediatric Pain Tool

Nursing

A nurse evaluates an asthmatic patient who has developed tachycardia and dysrhythmias. The laboratory result that would suggest that these signs are the result of theophylline toxicity is a serum theophylline level _______ mcg/mL

a. below 10 b. above 30 c. between 20 and 25 d. above 2.5

Nursing