A client with suspected pulmonary edema is undergoing diagnostic testing. Which laboratory parameter is often elevated in cases of heart failure-related pulmonary edema?

A) Incorrect. Hyperventilation leading to respiratory alkalosis may occur in response to respiratory distress but is not the primary cause of the sensation of "suffocation."

B) Incorrect. Reduced cardiac output may be a consequence of pulmonary edema, but it does not typically result in bradycardia, nor is it the primary cause of the sensation described.

C) Correct. In pulmonary edema, fluid accumulation in the alveoli impairs oxygen diffusion, leading to hypoxemia, which contributes to the sensation of "suffocation."

D) Incorrect. Elevated blood pressure and hypertension can be associated with heart failure but are not the primary factors contributing to the sensation of "suffocation" in pulmonary edema.

A) Incorrect. Pulmonary edema is not a bacterial lung infection.

B) Incorrect. Pleuritis (inflammation of the pleura) is a different condition unrelated to pulmonary edema.

C) Correct. Pulmonary edema is characterized by the accumulation of excess fluid in the lungs, often in the alveoli and interstitial spaces.

D) Incorrect. A blockage in the coronary arteries is related to myocardial infarction (heart attack) and is not the primary characteristic of pulmonary edema.