A nurse is gathering data on a patient who is suffering from circulatory overload.
What symptoms should the nurse anticipate?

Choice A rationale:

Mitral valve stenosis is a condition characterized by a narrowing of the mitral valve in the heart, which can lead to a variety of symptoms. One of the most common symptoms of mitral valve stenosis is a heart murmur. This is due to the turbulent flow of blood caused by the narrowed valve. The murmur is typically heard during a physical examination when a healthcare provider listens to the heart with a stethoscope.

Choice B rationale:

Bradycardia, or a slower than normal heart rate, is not typically associated with mitral valve stenosis. While mitral valve stenosis can cause irregular heart rhythms, it does not typically cause the heart rate to slow down.

Choice C rationale:

Clubbing of the fingers is a physical symptom that involves changes in the areas under and around the nails and is typically associated with conditions that cause chronic low blood oxygen levels. While mitral valve stenosis can lead to shortness of breath and fatigue, it does not typically cause clubbing of the fingers.

Choice D rationale:

A barrel chest, characterized by an increased chest diameter, is typically associated with conditions that cause chronic overinflation of the lungs, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is not a typical symptom of mitral valve stenosis.

In conclusion, while mitral valve stenosis can lead to a variety of symptoms, the most relevant to this question is a heart murmur. Other symptoms such as bradycardia, clubbing of the fingers, and a barrel chest are not typically associated with this condition.

Choice A rationale:

Dry skin is not typically associated with respiratory alkalosis. Respiratory alkalosis occurs when the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood aren’t balanced, often due to hyperventilation. Dry skin is not listed as a common symptom of this condition.

Choice B rationale:

Diarrhea is not a common symptom of respiratory alkalosis. The condition is characterized by symptoms such as dizziness, numbness, confusion, and shortness of breath. Diarrhea is more commonly associated with gastrointestinal issues rather than respiratory conditions.

Choice C rationale:

Abdominal pain is not a typical symptom of respiratory alkalosis. The condition is usually caused by over-breathing

(hyperventilation) that occurs when you breathe very deeply or rapidly. Abdominal pain is not listed as a common symptom of this condition.

Choice D rationale:

Hyperventilation is typically the underlying cause of respiratory alkalosis. Hyperventilation, also known as overbreathing, occurs when someone breathes very deeply or rapidly. This can cause the levels of carbon dioxide in the blood to drop too low, leading to respiratory alkalosis. Therefore, a nurse assessing a client who has respiratory alkalosis should expect to find signs of hyperventilation.