NUTRITION

TERMINOLOGY

1. Anorexia: Loss of appetite.
2. Dyspepsia: Indigestion. A feeling of fullness, discomfort, nausea and anorexia.
3. Dysphagia: Difficulty in swallowing.
4. Food: Any substance which can be used by the body for its growth, development and repair.
5. Nausea: A sensation of sickness with inclination to vomit.
6. Nutrients: Constituents of food.eg., carbohydrate, protein, fat, minerals, vitamins, water.
7. Regurgitation: Back flow. eg., back flow of partly digested food into the mouth from the stomach.
8. Vomiting: Expulsion of stomach contents via the oesophagus and the mouth.

FACTORS AFFECTING APPETITE

The appetite is increased by:

• Sight and smell of food (attractive serving).
• Food preference (likes and dislikes if the individual).
• Physical and mental relaxation (freedom from hurry, worry, pain, stress and fatigue).
• Regularity in eating (spacing of meals).
• Pleasant environment (attractive and cheerful atmosphere).
• Exercise.

The appetite is decreased by:

• Physical and mental fatigue.
• Hurry, worry and fear.
• Unpleasant environment and experiences.
• Lack of exercises.
• Irregular meals.
• Long spacing of meals timings.

COMPLICATIONS OF PROLONGED REST

On the Cardio-vascular system

• Cardiac output is increased 25 to 30%.
• Patient develops orthostatic hypo tension - a feeling of weakness and dizziness when they first get up after a period of rest.
• Formation of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

On the Respiratory system

• Decreased chest expansion and decreased chest movements resulting in the decreased ventilation of the lungs.
• Stasis and pooling of secretions leads to hypostatic pneumonia.
• When a patients respiratory movements are decreased, the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs is severely affected and this leads to tissue hypoxia.

On the Gastro-intestinal tract

• Development of anorexia due to general weakness, worry and boredom accompanying immobility.
• Development of constipation due to change in the diet, changes in the daily routine, decrease in the level of activity, strange experiences such as use of a bedpan, unnatural position used for defecation, etc.

On the Renal function

• Difficulty in urination due to lack of privacy, use of bedpans, unnatural positions. This leads to bladder distension.
• Urinary stasis and formation of renal calculi.

On the Metabolism

• Decreased muscle tone.
• Muscle atrophy.

On the Musculo-skeletal system

• Demineralization of the bones.
• Contractures of the muscle.
• Stiffness and pain in the joints.
• Muscle cramps.
• Foot drop.

On the Mental activity

• Lethargy, loneliness and depression.
• Anxiety and insomnia.
• Emotional disturbances leading to hostility.
• Mental disturbances leading to neurosis and psychosis.

On the Skin

• Bed sore