A nurse is reviewing the chest x-ray of an older adult client. Which of the following findings is a normal age-related change in the thorax?

Increased anteroposterior diameter.

Decreased kyphosis.

Increased lung expansion.

Decreased calcification.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

The correct answer is A.

Increased anteroposterior diameter.

This is a normal age-related change in the thorax that results from changes in the bones and muscles of the chest and spine. The ribcage becomes less flexible and more rounded, which increases the front-to-back dimension of the chest.

This can affect the lung function and breathing capacity of older adults.

Choice B is wrong because decreased kyphosis means reduced curvature of the spine, which is not a normal age-related change. In fact, kyphosis tends to increase with aging due to osteoporosis and vertebral compression fractures.

Choice C is wrong because increased lung expansion means greater ability to fill the lungs with air, which is not a normal age-related change. In fact, lung expansion tends to decrease with aging due to loss of elasticity and shape of the air sacs (alveoli) and weakening of the respiratory muscles.

Choice D is wrong because decreased calcification means reduced deposition of calcium in the tissues, which is not a normal age-related change. In fact, calcification tends to increase with aging, especially in the costal cartilages that connect the ribs to the sternum.

This can make the chest wall more rigid and less compliant.

Normal ranges for anteroposterior diameter vary depending on age, sex, height and weight, but generally it should be less than the transverse diameter (the side-to-side dimension of the chest).

A ratio of anteroposterior to transverse diameter greater than 0.9 is considered abnormal and may indicate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

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Correct Answer is ["A","D","E"]

Explanation

The correct answer is A, D, and E.

Here is why:.

A. “You may experience dizziness when you stand up quickly.” This is true because aging causes the arteries and arterioles to become less elastic and less able to adjust the blood pressure quickly when the posture changes.This can lead to a drop in blood pressure when standing up, which can cause dizziness or fainting.

D. “Your blood vessels may become stiffer and narrower.” This is true because aging causes the walls of the arteries and arterioles to become thicker and stiffer, which reduces their compliance and increases the resistance to blood flow.This can lead to high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular diseases.

E. “Your heart may skip some beats or have extra beats.” This is true because aging causes changes in the electrical system of the heart, which can result in arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, premature ventricular contractions, or sinus bradycardia.These can cause irregular heartbeats that may be felt as palpitations or skipped beats.

B. “Your blood pressure may drop when you are resting.” This is false because aging does not cause a decrease in blood pressure at rest.

In fact, aging tends to increase the systolic blood pressure (the pressure when the heart contracts) due to the stiffening of the arteries.The diastolic blood pressure (the pressure when the heart relaxes) may remain normal or decrease slightly, resulting in a widened pulse pressure (the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures).

C. “Your heart may beat faster when you exercise.” This is false because aging does not cause an increase in heart rate during exercise.

In fact, aging tends to decrease the maximum heart rate that can be achieved during exercise due to the reduced responsiveness of the heart to adrenergic stimuli.The older heart also takes longer to recover after exercise.

Normal ranges for blood pressure are less than 120/80 mmHg for adults of any age.Normal ranges for heart rate are 60-100 beats per minute for adults of any age, but the maximum heart rate decreases with age according to the formula 220 minus age.

A. “Your respiratory muscle strength may decrease as you age.”. B. “Your lung tissue may become less elastic and more rigid over time.”. C. “Your cough reflex and gag reflex may become weaker with age.”. D. “Your vital capacity may increase and your residual volume may decrease as you age.”. E. “Your ciliary action and mucus production may decrease with age.”.

Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","E"]

Explanation

The correct answer is A, B, C, and E.These statements reflect the respiratory system changes that occur with aging, such as decreased respiratory muscle strength, decreased lung elasticity and recoil, decreased cough and gag reflexes, and decreased ciliary action and mucus production.

These changes can impair gas exchange, increase the risk of infections, and reduce exercise capacity.

Choice D is wrong because it states the opposite of what happens with aging.

Vital capacity is the maximum amount of air that can be exhaled after a maximum inhalation.

Residual volume is the amount of air that remains in the lungs after a maximum exhalation.With aging, vital capacity decreases and residual volume increases due to the loss of lung elasticity and airway closure.

This reduces the amount of fresh air that can enter the lungs and increases the amount of stale air that remains in the lungs.

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A nurse is reviewing the chest x-ray of an older adult client. Which of the following findings is a normal age-related change in the thorax?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is teaching a group of older adults about the effects of aging on the cardiovascular system. Which of the following statements should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.).

Correct Answer is ["A","D","E"]

Explanation

A nurse is teaching a group of older adults about the respiratory system changes that occur with aging. Which of the following statements should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.).

Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","E"]

Explanation

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