Thermal Therapies

Question 1

What vitals used to do?

Answer 1

Monitor a patient’s condition, identify problems, and evaluate a response to intervention

Question 2

What are nursing responsibilities when it comes to guidelines for measuring vitals?

Answer 2

Functional equipment, delegate, interpret findings, trends, environmental factors that may affect results. Communicate findings, accurately document, analyze the results, educate the patient about the significance of findings

Question 3

Body temperature?

Answer 3

Heat produced minus heat lost equals temp.
96.8-100.4 F
36-38 C

Question 4

What factors affect body temp?

Answer 4

Age, exercise, hormone level, circadian rhythm, stress, environment, temp alterations

Question 5

How is body temp regulated?

Answer 5

Neural and vascular control. Heat production. Heat loss. Skin temp regulation. Behavioral control. Thermoregulation

Question 6

Examples of temperature alterations?

Answer 6

Pyrexia, heat exhaustion, heatstroke (>104F), hyperthermia, hypothermia

Question 7

Cellular metabolism rises and oxygen consumption increases. Heat and respiratory rates increase. Fluid loss from increased respiration and diaphoresis.

Answer 7

Pyrexia/fever.
Body metabolism increases 10% for every degree C. The use of energy produces additional heat. If a pt has a cardiac or respiratory problem, the stress of a fever is great.

Question 8

How does prolonged pyrexia weaken a patient?

Answer 8

By exhausting energy stores. Increased metabolism requires additional oxygen (cellular hypoxia). Interventions during a fever include oxygen therapy.

Question 9

Myocardial hypoxia produces what?

Cerebral hypoxia produces what?

Answer 9

Angina

Confusion

Question 10

What are the differences from oral temps with rectal and axillary ones?

Answer 10

Rectal is usually 0.5 C (0.9F) higher than oral.

Axillary is usually 0.5 C (0.9F) lower than oral.

Question 11

What are examples of interventions concerning temp?

Answer 11

Antipyretics, mimimize heat production, maximize heat loss, satisfy metabolic needs, promote comfort, health teaching, control environment.

Question 12

Application of heat and cold therapies?

Answer 12

Order is required.

Assess for skin integrity, patient’s response to stimuli, equipment being used, identify any contraindications.

Question 13

Effects of heat therapy?

Answer 13

Vasodilation. Decreased blood viscosity and muscle tension. Increased tissue metabolism, and capillary permeability. DO use for edema

Question 14

Effects of cold therapy?

Answer 14

Vasoconstriction. Local anesthetic. Decreased cell metabolism and muscle tension. Increased blood viscosity. Don’t use for edema.

Question 15

Advantages of moist application?

Answer 15

Decreased drying of skin. Compress conforms to the area. Penetrates deep tissue. No insensible fluid loss.

Question 16

Disadvantages of moist application?

Answer 16

Prolonged use causes maceration. Cools rapidly. Increased risk for burn injury.

Question 17

Advantages of dry application?

Answer 17

Less risk for burns. No skin maceration. Retains temp longer.

Question 18

Disadvantages of dry application?

Answer 18

Increased body fluid loss. Decreased deep tissue penetration. Drying of skin.

Question 19

Contraindications of cold?

Answer 19

Site of injury is edematous. Presence of neuropathy. Pt is shivering. Impaired circulation.

Question 20

Contraindications to heat?

Answer 20

Areas of active bleeding. Acute localized inflammation. If pt has cardiovascular problems.

Question 21

What is the average temp in the elderly population?

Answer 21

95-97 F
35-36.1 C
Results from decreased everything. Immunity, poor vasomotor control, reduced amounts of subcutaneous tissue, reduced sweat gland activity, reduced metabolism

Question 22

Temp according to time of day?

Answer 22

Lowest temp is at 6am and the highest is at 4pm

Question 23

How do thyroid hormones affect BMR and body heat?

Answer 23

When large amounts of thyroid hormones are secreted, the BMR can raise 100% above normal. The absence of the hormones reduces the BMR by half, causing a decrease in heat production.

Question 24

Transfer of heat away by air movement.

Answer 24

Convection. The rate of heat loss increases when moistened skin comes into contact with slightly moving air.

Question 25

Transfer of heat when a liquid is changed to a gas. The body continuously loses heat this way.

Answer 25

Evaporation. 600-900 mL a day evaporates from the skin and lungs, resulting in water and heat loss.

Question 26

The ability of a person to control body temp depends on?

Answer 26

The degree of temp extreme, the persons ability to sense feeling comfy or uncomfy, thought process and emotions, the persons mobility or ability to add or remove clothes.

Question 27

Temp in newborns?

Answer 27

95.9-99.5 F
35.5-37.5 C
A newborn loses up to 30% of body heat through the head.

Question 28

The transfer of heat from the surface of one object to the surface of another without direct contact between the two. Increases as temp difference between objects increases.

Answer 28

Radiation. As much as 85% of the surface area of the body radiates heat to the environment.

Question 28

The transfer of heat from one object to another through direct contact.

Answer 28

Conduction. Small amount of heat loss.

Question 28

A constant body temp continuously above 100.4 F, 38 C that has little fluctuation

Answer 28

Sustained fever

Question 28

Fever spikes interspersed with usual temp levels. Temp returns to acceptable value at least once in 24 hours.

Answer 28

Intermittent fever

Question 29

Fever spikes and falls without a return to acceptable temp levels

Answer 29

Remittent fever

Question 30

Periods of febrile episodes and periods with acceptable temp values (febrile episodes and periods of normothermia are often longer than 24 hrs)

Answer 30

Relapsing fever

Question 31

Classifications of hypothermia?

Answer 31

Mild: 93.2-96.8
Moderate: 86-93.2
Severe: under 86