What indicates a patient is experiencing severe respiratory distress?

A patient experiencing severe respiratory distress typically exhibits significant difficulty in breathing, which affects their ability to communicate effectively. Speaking only in two-word sentences indicates that the patient is struggling to catch their breath and is unable to converse normally due to their compromised respiratory status. This limitation in verbal communication usually occurs because they need to prioritize their effort to breathe rather than speak, reflecting serious distress.

In a state of severe respiratory distress, a person's respiratory rate may be elevated, and they may exhibit signs such as use of auxiliary muscles to breathe or display an anxious demeanor. Other options portray scenarios where the patient has a better ability to manage their breathing, such as being able to speak in full or nearly full sentences, which would indicate less severity in their respiratory condition. Additionally, speaking only in two-word phrases highlights the patient's critical situation and urgency for medical attention.