Final answer:
A narrowing pulse pressure is often seen in hypotensive patients due to conditions like heart failure or significant blood loss. Hypertensive patients usually have a wider pulse pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Narrowing pulse pressure is indicative of a decrease in stroke volume, which can be observed in conditions such as congestive heart failure, aortic valve stenosis, or significant blood loss after trauma. Therefore, a patient with a narrow pulse pressure would likely be one who is experiencing hypotensive symptoms rather than hypertensive states. To elaborate, a hypertensive patient typically has a higher pulse pressure, while a hypotensive patient would have a lower (narrow) pulse pressure. A normal healthy individual has a wider pulse pressure, especially after exercise, whereas a patient with a fever may exhibit a variable pulse pressure depending on the overall impact of the fever on the body's hemodynamics.