Question

The client is admitted from the emergency room with multiple injuries sustained from an auto accident. His doctor prescribes a histamine blocker. The reason for this order is: A. To treat general discomfort B. To correct electrolyte imbalances C. To prevent stress ulcers D. To treat nausea

Short answer

Answer: To prevent stress ulcers.

Step-by-step solution

Review the function of histamine blockers

A histamine blocker, also known as H2 antagonist, is a type of medication that works by blocking the action of histamine on parietal cells in the stomach, reducing the production of acid. These drugs are commonly used to treat gastrointestinal conditions like peptic ulcers, heartburn, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. It's essential to consider histamine blockers' primary function in determining the correct answer.

Eliminate unlikely options

Based on the function of histamine blockers, we can eliminate options that do not pertain to the stomach or the issues histamine blockers are designed to address. Option A, treating general discomfort, is too broad as histamine blockers specifically address stomach-related issues. Option B, correcting electrolyte imbalances, is not directly related to histamine blocker functions. Thus, eliminate options A and B.

Evaluate remaining options

Option C, preventing stress ulcers, is a potential reason for prescribing histamine blockers. Stress ulcers occur when stomach acid production increases due to stress or trauma, like multiple injuries sustained from an auto accident. Histamine blockers help reduce the production of stomach acids, which can be helpful to prevent stress ulcers in this case. Option D, treating nausea, might be somewhat related since histamine blockers can indirectly help with nausea by preventing stomach acid production. However, this application is not the primary function of histamine blockers, and other medications are more commonly prescribed to treat nausea.

Select the correct answer

In this context, the most appropriate reason for prescribing a histamine blocker would be to prevent stress ulcers. Hence, the correct answer is Option C.