A 27-year-old male is taking an anticholinergic drug as adjunctive therapy to treat his peptic ulcer disease. The client comes to the clinic and tells the nurse that he "feels his heart beating." What adverse effect is the client experiencing from the anticholinergic medication?

A) Check the client's perianal skin integrity:
Assessing perianal skin integrity is important in the care of a client with ulcerative colitis, particularly due to the potential for diarrhea and irritation. However, this is not the first priority upon admission for an acute exacerbation.

B) Educate the patient on which foods the patient should eat:
Nutritional education is crucial in managing ulcerative colitis, but it is not the priority during the initial assessment and admission for an acute exacerbation. Stabilizing the client's condition and addressing immediate needs take precedence.

C) Investigate the client's emotional concerns:
While emotional support is important, particularly in chronic conditions like ulcerative colitis, assessing emotional concerns is not the first action required upon admission for an acute exacerbation. Physical stabilization and assessment of the client's condition are the initial priorities.

D) Review the client's electrolyte values:
This is the correct answer. During an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis, there is a risk of electrolyte imbalance due to diarrhea and fluid loss. Reviewing the client's electrolyte values is crucial to assess the severity of dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, which can have immediate implications for the client's treatment plan and stabilization.

A) The parasympathetic nervous system:
This is the correct answer. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for regulating rest and digestion. It controls activities such as increased gastric motility, secretion of digestive enzymes, and relaxation of sphincters in the gastrointestinal tract. Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system promotes digestion and absorption of nutrients by increasing gastrointestinal activity.

B) The limbic system:
The limbic system is primarily involved in emotions, behavior, and long-term memory formation. While emotions can influence gastrointestinal function, including appetite and digestion, the limbic system itself does not directly control gastric motility and digestion.

C) The central nervous system:
The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord and plays a vital role in integrating and coordinating all body activities. While it indirectly influences gastrointestinal function through autonomic nervous system control, it is not the primary regulator of gastric motility and digestion.

D) The sympathetic nervous system:
The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body's fight or flight response, which involves activities such as increasing heart rate, dilating airways, and redirecting blood flow away from the digestive organs to skeletal muscles during times of stress or arousal. It typically inhibits digestive processes, including gastric motility, to conserve energy for immediate survival needs.