Certified Hospice and Palliative Assistant (CHPNA) Practice Test

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In the management of dyspnea, directing a fan towards the patient's face serves what purpose?

Distraction from discomfort
Stimulation of the baroreceptors
Decreased oxygen demand
Cooling the patient's body

The correct answer is: Stimulation of the baroreceptors

Directing a fan towards the patient's face in the management of dyspnea primarily helps to stimulate the baroreceptors located in the airways. When air flows across the face and enters the respiratory system, it creates a perception of easier breathing, which can reduce the sensation of breathlessness. This sensory stimulation can provide relief by enhancing airflow across the mucosal surfaces, which informs the brain that the patient is getting adequate air, potentially alleviating some of the anxiety and distress that accompanies dyspnea. While other options may seem plausible in different contexts, they do not directly address the physiological response invoked by the airflow from a fan. Distraction from discomfort is more about psychological coping, not directly affecting the body's respiratory mechanics. Decreased oxygen demand is not a direct action of the fan; instead, it may not significantly affect the metabolic requirements of a patient experiencing dyspnea. Cooling the patient's body may assist with overall comfort but does not have a specific impact on the sensation of breathlessness. Therefore, the stimulation of baroreceptors in response to directed airflow is the most relevant and effective physiological mechanism at play in this scenario.