A nurse is caring for a client who has degenerative disc disease.
Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse understand might develop with this condition? (Select All that Apply)

Choice A rationale
Age is a non-modifiable risk factor for stroke. As people age, their risk of stroke increases. However, this is not something that can be changed or controlled.
Choice B rationale
Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that can increase the risk of stroke, particularly in children. However, it is not a modifiable risk factor because it is determined by the person’s genes.
Choice C rationale
Having a parent with cardiovascular disease can increase a person’s risk of stroke. However, this is a non-modifiable risk factor because it is determined by genetics.
Choice D rationale
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major modifiable risk factor for stroke. It can be controlled through lifestyle changes and medication.

Choice A rationale

Respiratory therapy is primarily concerned with the treatment and management of a patient’s breathing. While swallowing difficulties can potentially lead to respiratory issues such as aspiration pneumonia, the primary role of evaluating and treating swallowing difficulties falls outside the scope of respiratory therapy.
Choice B rationale
Nutritional therapy would be involved in managing the dietary needs of a patient with Parkinson’s disease, including modifications to food texture and liquid consistency if swallowing difficulties are present. However, the evaluation and treatment of the swallowing difficulty itself would be managed by a speech therapist.
Choice C rationale
Occupational therapy could assist with adaptations to enhance the patient’s feeding skills and independence during meals. However, the specific evaluation and treatment of swallowing function is typically within the scope of a speech therapist.
Choice D rationale
Speech therapists, or speech-language pathologists, are the professionals specifically trained to evaluate and treat individuals with speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders. This would include a patient with Parkinson’s disease experiencing difficulty swallowing.