Question

Katie G. is a 29 year old culinary arts student who comes to the clinic for a routine prophylaxis. She notes on her medical history that she suffers from "heartburn" almost every evening. Her chief complaint is stain on her anterior teeth, which she blames on her two packs per day cigarette habit and from sinking black coffee all day. Her blood pressure is 138/96, pulse is 90, and respirations are 15 per minute. During the intraoral examination, the hygiene student notes severe erosion on the mandibular molars, and her throat and soft palate are redder than normal. Katie's medication history includes over the counter antacids taken to relieve her symptoms, oral contraceptive, and ibuprofen almost every day for headaches.

All factors could contribute to Katie's nightly "heartburn" except which of the following?
A. Hypertension
B. Coffee consumption
C. Smoking habit
D. Ibuprofen

Answer 1

Hypertension is the factor least likely to contribute to nightly heartburn in the case of Katie G., in contrast to coffee consumption, smoking habit, and ibuprofen use, which are all known to potentially exacerbate heartburn symptoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

Katie G. is a 29-year-old culinary arts student who presents with symptoms such as heartburn, stained anterior teeth high blood pressure and intraoral erosion. In considering the factors that could contribute to Katie's nightly heartburn hypertension is the condition least likely to be a direct cause. Although hypertension can have dietary and lifestyle overlap with heartburn risk factors it does not directly cause heartburn.

On the other hand coffee consumption and smoking habit have been associated with increased gastric acidity and relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, which can lead to heartburn. Additionally the frequent use of ibuprofen, which is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), can irritate the gastrointestinal lining and exacerbate heartburn symptoms. In summary, hypertension (A) is the factor least likely to contribute to nightly heartburn when compared to the other options provided.