A nurse is caring for a middle-aged client who looks worried and flares his nostrils when breathing. The client complains of difficulty in breathing, even when he walks to the bathroom

Question

Which of the following breathing disorders is most appropriate to describe the client's condition?

A) Hyperventilation
B) Hypoventilation
C) Dyspnea
D) Apnea

Answer 1

Ans: C
Clients with dyspnea usually appear anxious and worried. The nostrils flare as they fight to fill the lungs with air. Dyspnea is almost always accompanied by a rapid respiratory rate because clients work to improve the efficiency of their breathing. The client's condition cannot be termed hyperventilation, hypoventilation, or apnea. Hyperventilation and hypoventilation affect the volume of air entering and leaving the lungs. Apnea is total absence of breathing, which is life-threatening if it lasts more than four to six minutes.