A nurse is collecting data on a client who has increased peripheral vascular resistance. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A. Increased peripheral vascular resistance, which occurs when blood vessels are narrowed or less compliant, requires the heart to generate higher pressure to overcome the resistance and maintain adequate blood flow. This results in elevated blood pressure, often reflected in a systolic reading significantly above normal. The diastolic reading of 80 mm Hg is within normal limits, making the elevated systolic the key indicator. B. While extreme increases in vascular resistance can eventually decrease cardiac output, the immediate expected finding is elevated blood pressure. Cardiac output may remain normal initially, as the heart compensates for increased resistance by pumping harder. C. A pulse deficit indicates a difference between the apical and radial pulse, often seen with arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. It is not a direct consequence of increased peripheral vascular resistance. D. Respiratory rate is not directly affected by peripheral vascular resistance. Normal or slightly elevated rates may occur due to other cardiovascular effects, but bradypnea is not expected in this scenario.