Final answer:
Increased resistance in the lungs is detected by spirometry, indicating potential constricted airways and can result in increased wheezing and impaired airflow.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient has increased resistance in their lungs, it can be detected by a doctor through a diagnostic test known as spirometry. Increased resistance can be indicated by symptoms such as increased wheezing and impaired airflow, pointing to possibility of constricted or obstructed airways. Spirometry measures how much air the patient can breathe in and out, and how quickly they can do so. A decrease in the rate at which air can be expelled or taken in points to an increase in resistance, implying that the lungs are less able to fill with air and/or air passages may be narrowed or blocked.
Airway resistance can be increased due to various conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or an allergic reaction causing swelling of the airways. The correct answer to the student's question is d. Increased wheezing; Impaired airflow, because increased resistance often leads to difficulty breathing, which can be experienced as wheezing and reduced ability to move air in and out of the lungs efficiently.