Question

The nurse is caring for a middle-aged man who complains of excessive daytime sleepiness. The nurse's examination reveals that the patient has large tonsils. He jokingly tells the nurse that his wife complains that he snores.

The nurse hypothesizes that the patient has which of the following disorders?
a. deviated septum
b. obstructive sleep apnea
c. occlusion of the nostrils
d. upper respiratory infection

Answer 1

The patient's symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness, large tonsils, and snoring suggest that he may have obstructive sleep apnea, which is a sleep-related respiratory disorder treated by lifestyle modifications and CPAP therapy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse hypothesizes that the patient has obstructive sleep apnea, which is a disorder of the respiratory system characterized by the cessation of breathing during sleep. The complaints of excessive daytime sleepiness, large tonsils, and a history of snoring support this diagnosis.

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by an obstruction of the airway during sleep, often due to the relaxation of muscle tone or excess tissue in the throat, as could be the case with large tonsils. Lifestyle changes, use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, and sometimes surgery are treatments for obstructive sleep apnea.