Final answer:
The nursing instructor would point out pregnant women, especially around 28 weeks gestation, as being most likely to develop hemorrhoids due to increased blood volume and pressure on pelvic blood vessels. Heavy lifters and individuals with jobs requiring prolonged standing or sitting may also have a higher risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing which patients are most likely to develop hemorrhoids, the nursing instructor would identify pregnant women, among others, as the group with a higher risk. Hemorrhoids are engorged, swollen blood vessels in and around the anus and lower rectum which can cause discomfort. Pregnant women, like one at 28 weeks gestation, tend to develop them more frequently due to the significant physiological changes occurring during pregnancy. Specifically, the increased blood volume and pressure from the growing uterus compress pelvic blood vessels, leading to venous return issues from the legs and pelvic region, which in turn contributes to the development of hemorrhoids.
Individuals who perform heavy lifting, such as a construction worker, might also experience increased risk due to the straining, which exacerbates pressure on the venous system. The same applies to those who have prolonged standing or sitting jobs, like a teacher who stands for extended periods, which can affect blood flow and increase hemorrhoid risk. However, stress levels are not directly linked to hemorrhoid development; thus, a professional under stress would not be chiefly identified by their stress as being at higher risk for hemorrhoids.