Question

A patient's skin will MOST likely become cyanotic if he or she has?

1) Hypoxemia
2) Hyperthermia
3) Hypoglycemia
4) Hypertension

Answer 1

Cyanosis is a bluish or purple discoloration of the skin that can occur when there is a lack of oxygen in the blood. The most likely cause of cyanosis is hypoxemia, which is a low level of oxygen in the blood.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cyanosis is a condition characterized by a bluish or purple discoloration of the skin, which can occur when there is a lack of oxygen in the blood. The most likely cause of cyanosis in a patient is hypoxemia, which is a low level of oxygen in the blood.

In conditions like severe congenital heart defects or other respiratory diseases, hypoxemia may occur, leading to cyanosis. For example, in the case of tetralogy of Fallot or patent foramen ovale, where there is a mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, cyanosis can be observed.

Therefore, the correct option from the given choices is 1) Hypoxemia.