Question

The nurse is reviewing a patient's chart and notices that the patient has a history of Sjögren's syndrome. The nurse recognizes that the patient may have nutritional problems due to:

a. low blood sugar.
b. dry mouth.
c. impaired digestion.
d. malabsorption.

Answer 1

The nutritional problems in a patient with a history of Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease affecting the salivary glands, are likely due to dry mouth, which can interfere with swallowing and digestion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is reviewing a patient's chart and notices that the patient has a history of Sjögren's syndrome. This is an autoimmune condition where the immune system erroneously attacks the body's own cells, particularly impacting the salivary glands. In Sjögren's syndrome, the immune system is producing antibodies against its own proteins present in the salivary glands, which leads to malfunction and destruction of these glands, resulting in a reduction or absence of saliva production - a condition known as dry mouth (xerostomia). Due to the decreased saliva production, the patient may have nutritional problems such as difficulty swallowing and digesting food, which can lead to inadequate nutrition. Therefore, the correct answer is b. dry mouth. Although Sjögren's syndrome can have a wide range of symptoms and associated complications, it is not primarily known for directly causing low blood sugar, impaired digestion, or malabsorption, as these are not the direct consequences of the reduction in saliva production.