For which patient is a High Fiber Diet used?

Uttarakhand CHO - 2021

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Easy

Appeared in: Uttarakhand CHO - 2021

Explanation

A high-fiber diet is the cornerstone of managing atonic constipation, which is often caused by inadequate fiber and fluid intake or a sedentary lifestyle.
Dietary fiber, found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, is indigestible and adds bulk to the stool.
This increased bulk stimulates peristalsis (the wave-like muscle contractions of the intestine) and helps move stool through the colon.
Fiber also absorbs water, which softens the stool, making it easier to pass and preventing straining.

Option A: A high-fiber diet would worsen diarrhoea by increasing bowel stimulation and stool volume. The goal is to rest the bowel.
Option B: The primary dietary goal for peptic ulcers is to avoid foods that are chemically, mechanically, or thermally irritating and that stimulate gastric acid secretion. While some soft fiber is okay, a high-fiber diet is not the main therapy.
Option D: During an acute flare-up of colitis (like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease), a high-fiber diet can severely irritate the inflamed bowel, causing increased pain, cramping, and diarrhoea.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Therapeutic Diets for Gastrointestinal Disorders to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
When educating a patient about starting a high-fiber diet for constipation, the nurse must emphasize increasing fluid intake to at least 8-10 glasses per day. Insufficient fluid can cause the fiber to become hard and obstructive, worsening the constipation.
Nurses should advise patients to increase fiber intake gradually over several weeks to allow the gastrointestinal system to adapt, which helps minimize side effects like gas and bloating.
What if the patient's constipation is caused by long-term opioid use? While a high-fiber diet and fluids are still important, this type of constipation (Opioid-Induced Constipation) is primarily due to reduced gut motility and may require specific medications like stimulant laxatives or peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) in addition to dietary changes.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the therapeutic use of a 'High Fiber Diet'.
Next, analyze the four options provided, all of which are gastrointestinal conditions.
Recall the pathophysiology of each condition and how diet can affect it.
For constipation, recall that lack of bulk is a common cause. Fiber adds bulk, making it the logical treatment.
For diarrhoea, colitis, and ulcers, recall that the goal is to reduce irritation. Fiber can be an irritant, especially insoluble fiber, making it an incorrect choice for these acute conditions.
Select the option where the diet's mechanism (adding bulk) directly counteracts the problem (difficulty passing stool).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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