Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Test

Which of the following is a common sign or symptom of pulmonary edema?

1. Low heart rate and low blood pressure

2. Decreased respiratory rate

3. Anxiety and tachycardia

4. Elevated body temperature

The correct answer is: Anxiety and tachycardia

Pulmonary edema is a condition characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. One of the common signs or symptoms of pulmonary edema is anxiety and tachycardia. Anxiety is often seen in patients with difficulty breathing due to the feeling of suffocation, while tachycardia (increased heart rate) is the body's response to the decreased oxygen levels in the blood. These symptoms occur due to the impaired ability of the lungs to oxygenate blood properly because of the fluid accumulation, resulting in difficulty breathing and inadequate oxygen delivery to the body's tissues. Low heart rate and low blood pressure (Option A) are not typical signs of pulmonary edema. In pulmonary edema, the heart rate is usually increased due to the body's compensatory mechanisms trying to maintain adequate oxygen delivery. A decreased respiratory rate (Option B) is also not a common sign of pulmonary edema. In fact, patients with pulmonary edema often have an increased respiratory rate due to the body's attempt to improve oxygenation. Elevated body temperature (Option D) is not a classic sign of pulmonary edema. Elevated body temperature is more commonly associated with infections or inflammatory conditions rather than pulmonary edema.