When inspecting a cardiovascular client, the nurse notes that he needs to sit upright to breathe. This behavior is most indicative of:
When inspecting a cardiovascular client, the nurse notes that he needs to sit upright to breathe. This behavior is most indicative of:
The need to sit upright to breathe is most indicative of congestive heart failure. This condition can cause fluid accumulation in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe when lying flat, a phenomenon known as orthopnea. This is because the fluid redistribution increases in the lung bases when lying down, reducing effective gas exchange and making it easier to breathe in an upright position.
congestive cardiac failure