National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

A patient experiencing significant weight loss due to diarrhea and vomiting is at risk for which condition?

1. Bradycardia

2. Euvolemia

3. Shortness of breath

4. Orthostatic hypotension

The correct answer is: Orthostatic hypotension

Significant weight loss due to diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration and a decrease in blood volume. This rapid loss of fluids results in a reduction in the amount of circulating blood, which can impair the body's ability to maintain blood pressure. When a patient stands up, the sudden change in position requires an immediate adaptation of the cardiovascular system to maintain adequate blood flow to the brain. In cases of dehydration, this adaptation is compromised, often resulting in orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is characterized by a drop in blood pressure that occurs upon standing, causing symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, or even fainting. The condition arises mainly because the diminished blood volume fails to meet the body's needs for maintaining blood pressure during positional changes. Therefore, the patient's significant weight loss due to fluid loss from diarrhea and vomiting places them at a heightened risk for developing this condition. The other options, while they may relate to other conditions, do not directly result from the dehydration and hypovolemia that follow significant fluid loss.