A nurse is caring for a client who has a respiratory illness that has resulted in chronic hypoxia. Which of these conditions can develop as a result of long-term hypoxia?

A. ARDS is characterized by severe hypoxemia due to shunting, but it typically impairs oxygenation rather than carbon dioxide elimination. The primary issue is the inability to oxygenate blood, not the elimination of carbon dioxide.
B. In ARDS, pulmonary arterial pressure often increases due to pulmonary hypertension caused by widespread inflammation and hypoxemia, not decreased pressure. V/Q mismatch contributes to hypoxemia but does not directly cause decreased pulmonary arterial pressure.
C. While hypoxemia is a hallmark of ARDS, it is primarily due to shunting (where blood passes through unventilated areas of the lung) rather than dead space, which is more associated with conditions like pulmonary embolism.
D. ARDS involves decreased pulmonary compliance due to the stiffness of the lungs, which results from diffuse alveolar damage and the formation of hyaline membranes. This stiffness makes it difficult for the lungs to expand, leading to reduced oxygenation and severe hypoxemia.

A. Report new-onset muscle weakness: Hypokalemia can cause muscle weakness, cramps, and fatigue, which are important symptoms that need to be monitored. Reporting these symptoms promptly is crucial because severe hypokalemia can lead to life-threatening complications, such as respiratory failure or cardiac arrhythmias.

B. Increase consumption of apples and broccoli: While fruits and vegetables like apples and broccoli are healthy, they are not particularly high in potassium. The client should be encouraged to consume potassium-rich foods such as bananas, oranges, potatoes, and spinach to help correct hypokalemia.

C. Avoid salt substitutes: Some salt substitutes contain potassium chloride, which can actually help increase potassium levels. However, this option might be recommended in certain conditions where potassium levels need to be carefully controlled, such as in renal failure, not in hypokalemia management.

D. Report falls, due to high risk of osteoporosis: Hypokalemia does not directly increase the risk of osteoporosis. Falls may occur due to muscle weakness, but this is not specifically related to osteoporosis. Therefore, reporting falls is not the primary concern in hypokalemia.