New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

Which factor predominantly influences the hypoxic drive in patients with chronic respiratory diseases?

1. High blood oxygen levels

2. Low blood oxygen levels

3. Low blood carbon dioxide levels

4. High blood carbon dioxide levels

The correct answer is: Low blood oxygen levels

The factor that predominantly influences the hypoxic drive in patients with chronic respiratory diseases is low blood oxygen levels. This is particularly true for individuals with conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), where the body adapts to chronically elevated levels of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia). In these patients, the normal drive to breathe, which is primarily stimulated by rising carbon dioxide levels, is diminished due to their chronic condition. As a result, their respiratory drive becomes more reliant on low oxygen levels, a mechanism known as the hypoxic drive. When oxygen levels drop, the chemoreceptors in the body stimulate an increase in respiratory rate and depth, encouraging greater oxygenation of the blood. Therefore, in chronic respiratory disease, hypoxia becomes a crucial signal for stimulating respiration, which is the rationale behind selecting low blood oxygen levels as the correct factor influencing the hypoxic drive.