What should you do if signs of acute distress are observed during therapy?

• A. Increase therapy intensity
• B. Pause therapy and return to resting position
• C. Continue and monitor
• D. Seek emergency care

Answer: (B)

When signs of acute distress appear, safety comes first. The best action is to pause the therapy and bring the patient to a resting position. This lowers the body's demand and gives you a moment to assess how far symptoms have progressed while preventing further strain. After the patient is resting, you can recheck symptoms and, if appropriate, monitor vitals and decide whether to resume at a lower intensity or modify the plan. If distress persists, worsens, or there are red flags (such as chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, or confusion), seek emergency care promptly. Increasing intensity or continuing without stopping risks worsening the condition.