When evaluating a patient with suspected asthma exacerbation, which vital sign change might indicate the severity of the attack?

In patients experiencing an asthma exacerbation, an increased heart rate is significant because it reflects the body's response to decreased oxygen levels and the stress of respiratory distress. Tachycardia can be a sign of hypoxia or increased work of breathing, indicating that the patient's condition may be worsening. Monitoring heart rate can help healthcare providers assess the severity of the exacerbation and guide treatment decisions.

Stable blood pressure in this context does not provide direct information about the severity of the exacerbation. While blood pressure can be affected by severe respiratory distress, it is not a reliable vital sign for assessing asthma exacerbations specifically.

Increased appetite is not typically associated with asthma exacerbations; patients often experience symptoms such as breathlessness and wheezing, which can reduce appetite rather than increase it.

A reduction in fever may indicate improvement if fever were present, but it is not a typical sign of the severity of an asthma attack. Fever may suggest an underlying infection rather than the asthma exacerbation itself.