A nurse is performing a gastrointestinal assessment on an older adult. What assessment finding would the nurse be concerned with?
1. Dyspepsia
2. Hiatal hernia
3. Hyperactive bowel sounds
4. Decreased ability to taste foods
2. Hiatal hernia
Explanation: 1. Dyspepsia (indigestion with bloating, early satiety, abdominal distention, anorexia, vomiting, dysphagia, belching, or nausea) is a common symptom, but often is not vigorously investigated and is attributed to normal changes of aging.
2. Hiatal hernias, or diaphragmatic hernias that allow a small portion of the stomach to slide into the chest, are so common in older people that they are sometimes classified as a normal change of aging and are often asymptomatic.
3. Hyperactive bowel sounds, rebound tenderness, or the presence of an abdominal mass may indicate a bowel obstruction or perforation and require immediate referral and medical attention.
4. There is a decrease in the amount of taste buds in older adults; this is a normal age-related finding.
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