The nurse is assessing a 75-year-old patient who has presented to the ambulatory care clinic for an annual physical. The patient tells the nurse she seems to get sick more the older she gets. She questions the nurse about the reason
What response by the nurse is most appropriate? a. "Your bone marrow does not function as precise as you age."
b. "You are likely coming into contact with more illness, so it isn't just age."
c. "Aging does impact the capabilities of the immune system."
d. "You need to take a flu vaccine to offer more protection against illness."
C
Aging does not affect the bone marrow to a significant degree. It does cause the thymus gland to become smaller, and T cells apparently diminish in the circulation; B-cell numbers usually remain the same. All the mechanisms involved in decreased immune function are not yet clear, but it is apparent that after age 70 there is a definite decline in the function of the immune system. The patient may indeed need a flu vaccine, but this does not answer the inquiry posed by the patient.
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