Elimination and Nutrition Flashcards
is the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass that usually occurs with aging.
Sarcopenia
is a condition of too little protein in the blood; the normal range for albumin in a healthy adult is 3.5 – 5.0 g/dL
Hypoalbuminemia
is the failure of the chemical processes of digestion that take place in the intestines
Maldigestion
is the lack of a desire to eat despite physiologic stimuli that would normally produce hunger; this may occur as a side effect to drugs or as a result of disease process
a. Symptoms may include nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea
Anorexia
is the forceful emptying of the stomach and intestinal contents through the mouth
a. Stimuli – severe pain, distention of the stomach, presence of ipecac or copper salts, drugs, motion
b. Usually preceded by nausea and retching
c. *Spontaneous vomiting not preceded by nausea or retching is called projectile vomiting = it is caused by direct stimulation of the vomiting center by neurologic lesions
d. Symptoms include tachycardia, tachypnea, diaphoresis, increased gastric motility
e. May cause a metabolic alkalosis, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and hypokalemia
Vomiting (emesis)
is difficult or infrequent defecation
a. Affected by activity, diet, and drugs!
i. Decreased activity, low residue diet, opiates, antacids, anticholinergics, and iron all could cause decreased motility/bowel movements
Constipation
_______ constipation can be:
i. Normal transit: normal rate of passage but evacuation issue
ii. Slow transit: impaired colon activity so defecation is infrequent and difficult; there is distention
iii. Pelvic floor dysfunction: inability or difficulty expelling because the pelvic floor muscles or sphincter do not work
Primary
__________ constipation could be due to neurogenic disorders like strokes and Parkinson’s that cause altered neural pathways to the colon
Secondary
Fecal _________ may occur and be manifested by bleeding, abdominal cramping and pain, and nausea and vomiting
impactions
is the increase in frequency of defecation and in the fluid content and volume of stools
Types: i. \_\_\_\_\_ Volume: increased volume caused specifically by: a. E. coli or C. diff b. rotavirus
ii. _____ Volume: volume not changed
1. Often a result of inflammation of the intestine associated with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s
2. Also results from fecal impaction
Diarrhea
Large
Small
(Diarrhea)
a non-absorbable substance in the intestine that draws excess water into the intestine and increases stool weight and volume, producing large volume stool
Specific Causes:
a. Lactase or pancreatic enzyme deficiency
b. Excessive ingestion of non-absorbable sugars
c. Full-strength tube feedings
Osmotic
(Diarrhea)
Excessive mucosal secretion of fluid and electrolytes produces large-volume diarrhea
- Specific Causes:
a. Bacteria like E. coli or C. diff
b. Viruses like rotavirus
Secretory
(Diarrhea)
food is not mixed properly, digestion and absorption are impaired and motility is increased
- Specific Causes:
a. Resection of the small intestine (short bowel syndrome)
b. Surgical bypass of an area of the intestine
c. Fistula formation between the loops of the intestine
d. Irritable bowel syndrome
Motility
Gastrointestinal bleeding
a. Frank bleeding is bleeding that is seen
i. Bright ___ means the blood has not been digested
1. This would be blood from the esophagus if it is in vomit (_________)
2. May be blood from the rectum if it is in the stool (____________) - can also be caused if an upper GI bleed is rapid enough
ii. Dark and grainy means the blood has been digested/affected by stomach ____
1. Also known as coffee ground blood
2. Coffee ground emesis means it is blood from the stomach (so think a gastric ulcer)
iii. ______ is black or tarry stools that are foul smelling and indicate that the blood has been digested
1. This is blood that has been digested in the intestines
red
(hematemesis)
(hematochezia)
acid
Melena
Gastrointestinal bleeding
bleeding is bleeding that is not seen; it is usually from a slow, chronic blood loss and results in iron deficiency anemia
Occult