Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional (CCRP) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

When there is an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, the body compensates by raising pulmonary pressure. This response occurs because the heart must work harder to push blood through the narrowed or constricted pulmonary vessels. The increase in pressure is a necessary adaptation to maintain adequate blood flow to the lungs and facilitate gas exchange. If pulmonary vascular resistance remains elevated, it can lead to more significant changes, such as right heart strain or failure, as the right ventricle struggles against the increased pressure.

The other responses do not accurately reflect physiological adaptations to increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Lowering blood pressure systematically would not effectively address the need for better blood flow in the pulmonary circulation. Increasing blood flow to peripheral tissues would not be a primary response, as the body needs to prioritize oxygenation through the lungs. Dilating the pulmonary arteries could potentially decrease resistance but is not a direct response to elevated resistance; rather, the body typically responds with increased pressure first in an attempt to overcome that resistance.