What physiological response would likely occur if a patient with ARDS is becoming restless and anxious?

In the context of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), restlessness and anxiety in a patient can indicate a worsening respiratory status due to hypoxia or increased work of breathing. As ARDS progresses, the lungs become stiffer due to inflammation and fluid accumulation in the alveoli, which leads to decreased lung compliance.

Decreased lung compliance refers to the reduced ability of the lungs to expand and fill with air, which is a hallmark of ARDS. When a patient is experiencing this decreased compliance, it becomes more difficult for them to take deep breaths, leading to inadequate ventilation and gas exchange. Consequently, patients may become restless and anxious as they struggle to breathe and feel increasingly hypoxic.

In evaluating the choices, increased secretions may occur in response to irritants or infections but is not directly tied to the restlessness and anxiety characteristic of worsening ARDS. Improved oxygenation would not logically occur if the patient is showing signs of distress; in fact, it would be expected to decline as lung function deteriorates. Elevated blood pressure can occur in response to stress or hypoxia, but it is not a direct physiological change related to the compliance of the lungs. Thus, the link between restlessness and decreased lung compliance highlights why this is the correct response