A patient with chronic kidney disease is being examined.
Which symptom is indicative of hyperkalemia?

Choice A rationale:

Tachycardia, or a rapid heart rate, is not typically an adverse effect of oxygen therapy. Oxygen therapy is often used to help people with conditions like COPD, COVID-19, emphysema, and sleep apnea get enough oxygen to function and stay well. While tachycardia can be a symptom of these conditions, it is not directly caused by the oxygen therapy itself.

Choice B rationale:

Cracks in the oral mucous membranes can indeed be an adverse effect of oxygen therapy. Oxygen therapy involves the delivery of highly concentrated oxygen, which can cause irritation and dryness in the airways, including the oral mucous membranes. This can lead to cracks and discomfort in the mouth. Therefore, it’s important for healthcare providers to monitor patients receiving oxygen therapy for signs of this adverse effect.

Excessive pulmonary secretions are not typically a direct adverse effect of oxygen therapy. While conditions that often require oxygen therapy, such as pneumonia and COPD, can lead to increased pulmonary secretions, these are symptoms of the underlying disease rather than the oxygen therapy itself.

Choice D rationale:

Poor skin turgor is not typically an adverse effect of oxygen therapy. Skin turgor refers to the elasticity of the skin, and poor skin turgor is often a sign of dehydration. While oxygen therapy can cause dryness of the mucous membranes, it does not typically affect the hydration status of the skin.

Choice A rationale:

Metabolic alkalosis Metabolic alkalosis is a condition that occurs when your body has too many bases. It can occur due to prolonged vomiting, use of diuretics, or an overuse of antacids. In the context of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), metabolic alkalosis is not typically a direct result of the disease. COPD primarily affects the respiratory system and does not directly cause an imbalance of bases in the body.

Choice B rationale:

Respiratory acidosis Respiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when the lungs can’t remove enough carbon dioxide (CO2). This leads to a buildup of CO2 in the body, causing the pH of the blood to decrease and become more acidic. This is the most common acid-base imbalance seen in patients with COPD1. COPD can cause an alteration in respiratory exchanges, leading to retention of CO21. The consequence of hypercapnia due to alteration of gas exchange in COPD patients mainly consists in an increase of H+ concentration and development of respiratory acidosis.

Respiratory alkalosis Respiratory alkalosis is a condition that occurs when there is too little carbon dioxide in the body, often due to hyperventilation. In the context of COPD, this is less likely because COPD patients often have difficulty expelling carbon dioxide, not an excess of it being expelled.

Choice D rationale:

Metabolic Acidosis Metabolic acidosis occurs when the body produces too much acid, or when the kidneys are not removing enough acid from the body. This can occur due to conditions such as kidney disease, lactic acidosis, or ketoacidosis. While COPD can have wide-ranging effects on the body, it does not typically cause metabolic acidosis directly.