What type of patient might experience Cheyne-Stokes respirations?

• A. Young athletic individuals
• B. Patients with severe lung disease
• C. Healthy infants
• D. Elderly individuals with varying health conditions

Answer: (D)

Cheyne-Stokes respirations are characterized by a cyclical pattern of breathing that includes periods of deep, rapid breathing followed by short pauses, during which breathing can completely stop. This phenomenon is often observed in patients with various underlying health issues, particularly those affecting the neurological control of respiration.

In elderly individuals, this type of respiration can occur due to a combination of factors, such as decreased sensitivity in respiratory centers in the brain, potential heart failure, strokes, or other age-related health conditions. These changes can disrupt the normal rhythm of breathing, leading to the typical pattern seen in Cheyne-Stokes respirations.

While severe lung disease might affect breathing patterns, it's more common for it to manifest in different ways, and young athletic individuals typically have well-regulated respiratory patterns due to their fitness. Healthy infants usually exhibit a different breathing pattern as their respiratory control is still developing. Thus, the presence of Cheyne-Stokes respirations is particularly associated with the elderly and those experiencing complex health issues, making this answer the most appropriate in the context provided.