lect 2 Flashcards
why is there increased heart weight in older patients?
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and valvular sclerosis
what is the normal heart rate for older patients?
40 -100 bpm
what causes a decrease in baroreceptor sensitivity?
decreased pacemaker cells
what does it mean when the elderly’s systolic BP decreases by 20 from lying to sitting?
orthostatic hypotension
what does it mean they cough and there is a “pop”?
indication of alveoli bursting
where is lobar pneumonia most heard?
left lateral lobes
which abnormal heart sound is actually normal in older adults?
mild systolic murmur (S4)
what causes mild systolic murmur?
weakened cardiac valves that cause a backflow of blood
why do valves become weak and stiff?
accumulation of lipids and collagen cross-linking
what are diastolic murmurs?
heard between S2 and S1 (S3)
indicative of serious cardiac problems
what causes cardiac hypertrophy?
chronic HTN that makes the heart muscles work harder
elders have unchanged lung capacity but they have decreased excursion and expansion
true
what is the posture common among older adults?
kyphotic
what are important respiratory primary preventions?
having flu and pneumonia vaccines
presbyphonia definition
breathy voice due to larynx stiffening
what is the most common cause of type 2 diabetes in older adults?
decreased pancreatic reserve
insulin
what causes GI inflammation?
decreased motility
patient education on increasing bowel movements
adequate food intake and increased hydration
detrimental weight loss
10%
vaginal pH of postmenopausal women
alkaline
patients are most at risk for nephrotoxic injury with which medications?
NSAIDs and vancomycin
what does urine dribbling indicate?
post-op from BPH
infection (UTI)
why do men start losing their hair?
decreasing levels of testosterone
manifestation of elevated cholesterol on the eyes
yellow ring around the cornea of the eyes
what is the nursing intervention to prevent hearing loss?
educate to not use q-tips for cleaning ears
what qualifies a patient to have orthostatic hypertension?
decrease in 20 points systolic (lying to sitting)
what does dry mucus cough indictate?
dehydration
decreased lung expansion
infection
nursing interventions in maintaining patent airway
- repositioning
- suctioning
- incentive spirometry
- pursed-lip breathing
GI complications common in older adults
- gingivitis
- cholecystolithiasis
- GERD
older adults have increased nocturnal urine production
true
decreased accommodation & near vision
presbyopia
outward turning of eyelid
ectropion
inward turning of eyelid
entropion
what kind of age-related change can be found in the outer ear?
decreased ceruminal glands
these age-related changes–ossicle joint degenration, tympanic membrane thinning, & loss of resiliency–are found in what part of the ear?
middle ear
what types of age-related changes can be found in the inner ear?
- vestibular structures atrophy (cochlea & organ of Corti)
- loss of hair cells
define hyposomia
decrease in smell acuity
what age-related changes can you expect with smell and taste?
- decreased neurons that send signals to the brain
- difficulty distinguishing smells
- decreased taste r/t decreased smell
age-related changes in the immune system
everything shrinks & decreases
however
T-cell numbers are unchanged though less mature
