A nurse is assessing a client who has obstructive sleep apnea. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A) A client who has had a cerebrovascular accident:
Clients who have had a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) often suffer from dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) due to impaired muscle control or sensory deficits. This makes them more susceptible to aspiration, as food or liquid can enter the airway instead of the esophagus.

B) A client who has had radiation therapy for head and neck cancer:
Radiation therapy in the head and neck area can cause damage to tissues, leading to mucositis, fibrosis, and reduced salivary flow, all of which can impair swallowing function. This increases the risk of aspiration because the normal mechanisms that protect the airway during swallowing may be compromised.

C) A client who is 4 hr postoperative following a leg amputation with general anesthesia:
General anesthesia can depress the gag and cough reflexes and impair coordination of the muscles involved in swallowing, making it more difficult for the client to protect their airway. This increased risk of aspiration is particularly relevant in the immediate postoperative period when the effects of anesthesia may still be present.

D) A client who has lactose intolerance:
Lactose intolerance primarily affects the digestive system and does not directly impact the mechanics of swallowing or increase the risk of aspiration. This condition leads to gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain when consuming lactose-containing foods, but it does not increase the risk of food or liquid entering the airway during eating.

E) A client who has had prolonged diarrhea:
Prolonged diarrhea can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, but it does not directly affect the swallowing mechanism or increase the risk of aspiration. The primary concern with prolonged diarrhea is fluid and electrolyte management rather than an increased risk of aspiration during eating.

A) Painful urination: Painful urination, also known as dysuria, is not a typical symptom of BPH. Dysuria is more commonly associated with conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) or urethritis rather than BPH.

B) Urge incontinence: While BPH can cause lower urinary tract symptoms such as urgency and frequency, urge incontinence (involuntary loss of urine associated with a sudden urge to urinate) is not typically a primary symptom of BPH. Urge incontinence is more commonly associated with overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome.

C) Critically elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level: While BPH can cause an elevation in PSA levels, a critically elevated PSA level alone is not a definitive diagnostic finding for BPH. PSA levels can be elevated in various conditions affecting the prostate gland, including BPH, prostate cancer, and prostatitis. Therefore, PSA levels must be interpreted in conjunction with other clinical findings and diagnostic tests to accurately assess prostate health and diagnose specific prostate conditions.

D) Difficulty starting the flow of urine: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is characterized by the enlargement of the prostate gland, which can obstruct the flow of urine through the urethra. This obstruction leads to symptoms such as difficulty starting the flow of urine, weak urinary stream, urinary hesitancy, and incomplete bladder emptying. These symptoms occur due to the mechanical obstruction of the urethra by the enlarged prostate gland. Difficulty starting the flow of urine is a hallmark symptom of BPH and is often one of the earliest manifestations experienced by affected individuals.