The nurse caring for an older patient with influenza emphasizes the importance of drinking plenty of fluids and getting adequate rest to prevent the development of complications
What physiological changes is the nurse most concerned about in this patient?
Select all that apply.
1. reduced thirst reflex
2. altered hypothalamic response
3. increased residual lung volume
4. reduced effectiveness of cough
5. muted chemoreceptors in the aortic arch
Correct Answer: 3, 4
Influenza is clearly linked to an increased risk for pneumonia, particularly in older adults. Changes in respiratory function associated with aging, including reduced effectiveness of cough and increased residual lung volume, pose little risk in the healthy older adult but greatly increase the risk for pneumonia associated with influenza. Older patients may experience a change in thirst; however, this is not a reason the nurse is concerned about the development of complications from influenza in this patient. There is no evidence that the hypothalamic response is altered or that chemoreceptors in the aortic arch are muted in older patients.
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