A nurse is teaching a class at a local senior center regarding safety in the home. A client states, “I am afraid of falling because I live alone and have no one to help me.” Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

Choice A reason: Fructose corn syrup exacerbates irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, as fermentable carbohydrates cause gas and bloating. IBS involves altered gut motility and microbiota, and high-fructose foods trigger visceral hypersensitivity, worsening abdominal pain and discomfort, making this an inappropriate dietary recommendation.
Choice B reason: Gluten-rich foods may worsen IBS in clients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, causing bloating and diarrhea. Gluten disrupts gut motility in susceptible individuals, exacerbating IBS symptoms. Avoiding gluten is often advised, making increased intake counterproductive to managing IBS effectively.
Choice C reason: Milk products, containing lactose, worsen IBS in lactose-intolerant clients, causing bloating and diarrhea. Fermentable carbohydrates exacerbate gut dysmotility and visceral hypersensitivity, common in IBS, making increased dairy intake inappropriate for symptom management and dietary control in affected clients.
Choice D reason: Bran fiber, a soluble fiber, regulates bowel movements in IBS by adding bulk and stabilizing colonic transit. It reduces diarrhea and constipation, supporting microbiota health and alleviating symptoms. This evidence-based recommendation aligns with dietary management to improve gut function in IBS clients.

Choice A reason: Cheyne-Stokes respirations, alternating hyperventilation and apnea, indicate neurological dysfunction or end-of-life changes in brain tumor patients, not pain. This reflects brainstem involvement, requiring respiratory management rather than analgesics, as it is a physiological response to disease progression in palliative care.
Choice B reason: Mottled skin signals poor perfusion or impending death, common in palliative care as circulation declines. It is not a pain indicator but a sign of systemic shutdown, requiring comfort measures like warmth, not analgesics, which are irrelevant to this physiological change in terminal illness.
Choice C reason: Constricted pupils may reflect opioid effects or neurological changes in brain tumor patients but do not directly indicate pain. They suggest autonomic or brainstem dysfunction, necessitating neurological assessment, not immediate pain medication, in palliative care where comfort is prioritized based on clear pain cues.
Choice D reason: Grimacing indicates pain in palliative care patients with brain tumors, reflecting physical discomfort. As a facial expression of distress, it signals the need for analgesics to improve comfort and quality of life, aligning with palliative goals to manage pain effectively in end-stage disease.