National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Practice Exam

What condition is characterized by rapid and shallow breathing due to stress and anxiety?

1. Asthma

2. Hyperventilation

3. Pulmonary embolism

4. Croup

The correct answer is: Hyperventilation

The condition characterized by rapid and shallow breathing due to stress and anxiety is hyperventilation. During hyperventilation, an individual breathes at an increased rate, often leading to a decrease in carbon dioxide levels in the blood. This can occur in response to situations involving heightened emotional states, such as anxiety or panic attacks. Common symptoms of hyperventilation include lightheadedness, tingling in the extremities, and sensations of breathlessness. Asthma is primarily a chronic respiratory condition that involves inflammation of the airways and can cause wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing but is not specifically triggered by anxiety. Pulmonary embolism is a serious condition resulting from a blocked artery in the lungs, usually caused by blood clots, and presents with symptoms such as sudden shortness of breath and chest pain, rather than specifically shallow breathing due to anxiety. Croup is a viral infection that primarily affects young children and is characterized by a distinctive barking cough and stridor, not by hyperventilation or anxiety-related symptoms. Hence, hyperventilation is the most accurate choice for the scenario described.