Question

Your asthma patient presents with 'dyspnea' and 'tachypnea'. Which two terms describe that the patient has?

1) Cough and wheezing
2) Chest pain and fever
3) Shortness of breath and rapid breathing
4) Fatigue and dizziness

Answer 1

The correct description for a patient with 'dyspnea' and 'tachypnea' is experiencing shortness of breath and rapid breathing, which are symptoms associated with an asthma attack.

Step-by-step explanation:

The asthma patient who presents with 'dyspnea' and 'tachypnea' is experiencing shortness of breath and rapid breathing.

These terms are medical descriptions of respiration issues commonly associated with asthma. Dyspnea describes a sensation of breathlessness or difficulty breathing, while tachypnea indicates an abnormally high rate of breathing.

In the context of asthma, these symptoms can signal an asthma attack, which may also involve coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness.

Severe asthma attacks may require immediate medical attention and can cause further symptoms such as cyanosis (blue lips or face), confusion, drowsiness, a rapid pulse, sweating, and severe anxiety.

To manage asthma, individuals may be prescribed both long-term medications for regular maintenance and fast-acting drugs for immediate relief during an attack, which can be administered via an inhaler or nebulizer.