Final answer:
A resident on a ventilator may experience anxiety due to fears of suffocation, claustrophobia, and pain. Swelling from an allergic reaction increases resistance in airways, making it harder to breathe. Insufficient ventilation leads to low oxygen levels in alveoli and capillary constriction as a compensatory response.
Step-by-step explanation:
A resident might be anxious while on a ventilator for several reasons, which could include fear of suffocation, feelings of claustrophobia, and concerns about pain. The mechanical process of being on a ventilator can be quite intimidating and the sensation of the machine taking over the breathing process may cause a fear that if the machine fails, they might suffocate. Additionally, having a machine control one's breath, along with the tubes and equipment, can make a patient feel trapped, contributing to a sense of claustrophobia. Pain or discomfort, both from the condition that necessitated ventilation and from the presence of the ventilation tube itself, can also be a significant source of anxiety.
In relation to the respiratory system, if a patient suffers from an allergic reaction causing airway swelling, this would likely increase the resistance of the respiratory system because the air passages become narrower, making it more difficult for air to flow through. This can be understood by considering the principles of fluid dynamics, especially Poiseuille's law, which states that resistance is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the radius of the tube (in this case, the airways).
When ventilation is not sufficient, the body will attempt to compensate in various ways. Inadequate ventilation leads to low partial pressure of oxygen in the affected alveoli. The body responds to low oxygen levels by constricting the capillaries to divert blood to better-ventilated areas of the lung.
Moreover, warming and humidifying the air in the nasal passages is essential as it helps ward off infection, decrease sensitivity during breathing, and prevent damage to the lungs, making option (d) the correct answer from the information provided above.