The nurse is preparing to provide care for a client diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease.
Which pathophysiological characteristic will the nurse correctly associate with the patient’s diagnosis?

Choice A rationale
High-fat meals can exacerbate symptoms of gallbladder disease or pancreatitis, but they are not typically associated with peptic ulcer disease.
Choice B rationale
Relief of pain after a bowel movement is more indicative of conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease, not peptic ulcer disease.
Choice C rationale
Peptic ulcer disease is characterized by a gnawing or burning pain that can be relieved by eating. This is because food neutralizes the stomach acid temporarily. However, the pain often returns after the food has been digested.
Choice D rationale

Pain radiating to the lower back can be a symptom of conditions such as pancreatitis or gallstones, but it is not typically associated with peptic ulcer disease.

Choice A rationale
High hemoglobin is not typically a symptom of a perforated peptic ulcer. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. While changes in hemoglobin levels can indicate various health conditions, they are not directly associated with a perforated peptic ulcer.
Choice B rationale
Yellowing of the skin, or jaundice, is a symptom typically associated with liver disease, not a perforated peptic ulcer. Jaundice occurs when there’s too much bilirubin, a yellow-orange substance, in your blood.
Choice C rationale
Acute, sharp, and severe abdominal pain is a common symptom of a perforated peptic ulcer. A perforated peptic ulcer is a medical emergency that occurs when an ulcer goes through all the layers of the stomach or duodenum wall, creating a hole. This allows stomach or intestinal contents to leak into the abdominal cavity, causing severe abdominal pain.

Choice D rationale
High hematocrit is not typically a symptom of a perforated peptic ulcer. Hematocrit is the proportion of your total blood volume that is composed of red blood cells. While changes in hematocrit levels can indicate various health conditions, they are not directly associated with a perforated peptic ulcer. Dumping syndromeDumping syndrome Explore