Which sign might indicate that a patient is experiencing respiratory distress?

Increased respiratory effort is a key sign that indicates a patient may be experiencing respiratory distress. When a patient struggles to breathe, the body compensates by utilizing more muscles to assist with ventilation, which can lead to visible signs such as the use of accessory muscles of respiration, nasal flaring, or retractions of the chest wall. This increased effort is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as rapid breathing (tachypnea) and changes in the work of breathing, which can indicate that the patient's lungs are not effectively exchanging gases or that there is some obstruction or pathology affecting their respiratory function.

In contrast, a stable respiratory rate suggests that the patient is maintaining a normal level of breathing without distress. Normal oxygen saturation typically indicates adequate oxygenation of the blood and would not be consistent with respiratory distress. Similarly, the absence of wheezing does not indicate distress; wheezing is just one potential symptom and its absence does not preclude other issues in breathing mechanics or gas exchange. Therefore, increased respiratory effort is a critical and direct indicator of respiratory distress and should prompt further evaluation and intervention.