High Blood Pressure Makes Pneumonia Deadlier

Elevated blood sugar levels may help predict death in pneumonia patients, researchers say. The new study included nearly 6,900 patients, average age 60, with community-acquired pneumonia who were admitted to hospitals and private practices in Austria, Germany and Switzerland between 2003 and 2009. Community-acquired pneumonia, one of the leading infectious diseases in industrialized nations, is a major cause of illness and death, according to background information in the study published online May 29 in the journal BMJ. Compared to patients...

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Dose of Zinc Helps Sick Babies Recover

A simple, cheap dose of zinc helps the recovery of newborns suffering from bacterial infections such as pneumonia and meningitis, according to an Indian study reported on Thursday in The Lancet. Doctors gave 10-milligram daily supplements of zinc to 332 babies who were being given antibiotic treatment at hospitals in New Delhi, and compared the outcome against 323 infants who were given a placebo as well as antibiotics. The three-year probe, running from 2005 to 2008, focussed on babies aged between one week and four months. Compared to the...

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Nursing Research Bowel Elimination Among Elder Adults

Bowel elimination is the end process of digestion resulting from interactions of the central and autonomic nervous systems, and endocrine, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal systems. Three major bowel elimination problems have been studied and consistently have been shown to affect the older population: constipation, incontinence, and colorectal cancer (American Cancer Society, 2003a; Hogstel, 2001; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 2003; Vogelzang 1999). Constipation, defined as the accumulation of feces in the lower intestines with difficulty...

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Nursing Care Plan Severe Hypertension | Activity Intolerance

Nursing Diagnosis: Activity intolerance may be related to generalized weakness and imbalance between oxygen supply and demand possibly evidenced by verbal report of fatigue or weakness; abnormal heart rate or BP response to activity; exertional discomfort or dyspnea; and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes reflecting ischemia; dysrhythmias. Desired Outcomes: Participate in necessary/desired activities. Report a measurable increase in activity tolerance. Demonstrate a decrease in physiologic signs of intolerance. Nursing Intervention with Rationale: 1....

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Nursing Care Plan Hypertension | Acute Headache Pain

Nursing diagnosis: Acute headache pain may be related to increased cerebral vascular pressure possibly evidenced by reports of throbbing pain located in suboccipital region, present on awakening, and disappearing spontaneously after being up and about; reluctance to move head, rubbing head, avoidance of bright lights and noise, wrinkled brow, clenched fists; and reports of stiffness of neck, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting. Desired Outcomes Report pain/discomfort is relieved/controlled. Verbalize methods that provide relief. Follow...

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