A patient reports having frequent heartburn. Which question does the nurse ask in response to this information?
A) "Has your abdomen been distended when you feel the heartburn?"
B) "What have you eaten in the last 24 hours?"
C) "Is there a history of heart disease in your family?"
D) "How long after eating do you have heartburn?"

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Asking "How long after eating do you have heartburn?" can aid in determining if the patient has gastroesophageal reflux disease or a hiatal hernia. Both are common disorders that cause indigestion a few hours after meals. The question "Has your abdomen been distended when you feel the heartburn?" is not related to the heartburn. Distention usually is related to intestinal obstruction or liver disease. The question "What have you eaten in the last 24 hours?" relates more to gastroenteritis. Indigestion is usually caused by food eaten in the last meal rather than in the last 24 hours. The question "Is there a history of heart disease in your family?" points to myocardial ischemia. Although heartburn may be a symptom of myocardial ischemia, asking the patient about the family history is not relevant in this case.

A Patient Reports Having Frequent Heartburn