Which of the following is a direct respiratory change due to immobility?

Prepare for the Nursing Across the Lifespan Exam 2. Study through flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with detailed explanations. Enhance your understanding of nursing responsibilities and practices from birth to old age. Get exam-ready with focused preparation!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a direct respiratory change due to immobility?

Explanation:
When a person is immobile, chest expansion is reduced and breathing becomes shallow, which lowers ventilation of the lungs. That inadequate inflation allows portions of the alveoli to collapse, leading to atelectasis. This collapse is a direct respiratory change from immobility because it results from hypoventilation and poor airway clearance. Pneumonia can develop if secretions stagnate and infection sets in, but it’s more of a complication that can follow atelectasis rather than the immediate effect of being immobile. Bronchitis and pulmonary edema are not direct results of immobility in the same way.

When a person is immobile, chest expansion is reduced and breathing becomes shallow, which lowers ventilation of the lungs. That inadequate inflation allows portions of the alveoli to collapse, leading to atelectasis. This collapse is a direct respiratory change from immobility because it results from hypoventilation and poor airway clearance. Pneumonia can develop if secretions stagnate and infection sets in, but it’s more of a complication that can follow atelectasis rather than the immediate effect of being immobile. Bronchitis and pulmonary edema are not direct results of immobility in the same way.

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