Week 12 - ARC that Affect Thermoregulation

Question 1

What are 2 age related changes that impact the older adult’s ability to respond to a cool environment?

Answer 1

1. Decline in conservation responses
2. Decline in heat generation

Question 2

What causes a decline in conservation responses? (4)

Answer 2

• decline in sensation of cold
• Decline in vasoconstriction
• Distribution of fat
• decrease in relative subcutaneous fat may put adult at disadvantage

Question 3

What occurs to total body fat in older clients?

Answer 3

• total body and intrabdominal fat increase with age while subcut at decreases

Question 4

What occurs in a decline in heat generation? (3)

Answer 4

• Delayed and diminished shivering
• Reduce cold-induced metabolic heat production
• Reduced tendency to protect self against the cold

Question 5

What ARC impact the older adult’s ability to respond to warm environments? (5)

Answer 5

• ARC that increase risk for dehydration
• Diminished thirst response can lead to dehydration and stroke
• decreased sweating response
• Skin less protective (decreased sebaceous glands, thinner epidermis)
• Decreased awareness of temperature

Question 6

Which medical conditions increase the risk for hyperthermia? (3)

Answer 6

• CVD
• Diabetes
• PVD

Question 7

What medications increase the risk for hyperthermia? (6)

Answer 7

• Anticholinergics
• Antihistamines
• Diuretics
• Beta blockers
• Antidepressants
• anti-parkinson’s

Question 8

What medical conditions increase the risk for hypothermia? (4)

Answer 8

• Hypothyroidism
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Sepsis
• Malnutrition

Question 9

What conditions of the skin increase heat loss and therefore alter thermoregulation in response to cool environments? (2)

Answer 9

• inflammatory skin conditions
• Burns

Question 10

What medications are risk factors for hypothermia? (4)

Answer 10

• Tranquilizers
• sedatives
• anti-depressants
• Alcohol

Question 11

Basically, what should we assess for altered thermoregulation? (5,7)

Answer 11

1. Medications/alcohol
2. Risk factors of hyper/hypothermia
3. Pathological conditions
   - CVD, PAD, Dementia
4. Environment
   - A temp of 18 degrees can cause a serious drop in core temperature
5. Social isolation

Question 12

What are the housing conditions that are of concern to altered thermoregulation? (3)

Answer 12

• AC
• Heating
• Financial concerns

Question 13

How can knowledge help prevent altered thermoregulation?

Answer 13

• knowing the weather

nutritional risk factors and risk for falls (not under educ.)