intolerance
[in-tol´er-ans]inability to withstand or consume; inability to absorb or metabolize nutrients.
activity intolerance a nursing diagnosis accepted by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, defined as a state in which a person has insufficient physiological or psychological energy to endure or complete necessary or desired daily activities. Causes include generalized weakness, sedentary lifestyle, imbalance between oxygen supply and demand, and bed rest or immobility. Defining characteristics include verbal report of fatigue or weakness, abnormal heart rate or blood pressure response to activity, exertional discomfort, and dyspnea.
carbohydrate intolerance inability to properly metabolize one or more carbohydrate(s), such as glucose, fructose, or one of the disaccharides.
disaccharide intolerance inability to properly metabolize one or more disaccharide(s), usually due to deficiency of the corresponding disaccharidase(s), although it may have other causes such as impaired absorption. After ingestion of the disaccharide there may be abdominal symptoms such as diarrhea, flatulence, borborygmus, distention, and pain. One common type is lactose intolerance.
drug intolerance the state of reacting to the normal pharmacologic doses of a drug with the symptoms of overdosage.
exercise intolerance limitation of ability to perform work or exercise at normally accepted levels, as measured in exercise testing.
glucose intolerance inability to properly metabolize glucose, a type of carbohydrate intolerance; see diabetes mellitus.
lactose intolerance a disaccharide intolerance specific for lactose, usually due to an inherited deficiency of lactase activity in the intestinal mucosa.
risk for activity intolerance a nursing diagnosis accepted by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, defined as the state in which an individual is at risk of having insufficient physiological or psychological energy to endure or complete required daily activities. See also activity intolerance.
Patient Care. Nursing activities and interventions are aimed at identifying those factors that contribute to activity intolerance, providing evidence of the patient's progress to the higher level of activity possible for the patient, and reducing signs of physiologic intolerance to increased activity (blood pressure and respiratory and pulse rates). Once the contributing factors are identified, plans are made to avoid or minimize them. For example, if inadequate sleep or rest periods are a factor, the nurse plans with the patient scheduled periods of uninterrupted rest during the day. Inadequate sleep at night should be assessed and appropriate interventions planned and implemented. Making an objective record of the patient's progress toward increased activity tolerance can help alleviate depression or lack of incentive, both of which can be contributing factors. Such assessment data could include measurements of blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rates before and after an activity, gradual increase in the distance walked, and gradual resumption of responsibility for activities of daily living.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
ac·tiv·i·ty in·to·le·rance
(ak-tiv'i-tē in-tol'ĕr-ăns)Inability to perform daily activities because of decreased energy for any reason.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
activity intolerance
Inadequate mental or physical energy to accomplish daily activities. Risk factors include debilitating physical conditions such as anemia, obesity, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological deficits (such as those following stroke), severe heart disease, chronic pulmonary disease, metabolic disorders, and prolonged sedentary lifestyle.
Medical Dictionary, © 2009 Farlex and Partners
