Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 92%
Full-length
When inspecting a cardiovascular client, the nurse notes that he needs to sit upright to breathe. This behavior is most indicative of:
Correct answer
C
Rationale
Pericarditis can cause dyspnea but primarily causes chest pain. Anxiety can cause dyspnea resulting in SOB, yet it is not typically influenced by degree of head elevation. The inability to oxygenate well without being upright is most indicative of congestive heart failure, due to alveolar drowning. Angina causes primarily chest pain; any SOB associated with angina is not influenced by body position.