During an assessment, a patient presents with a history of asthma and shows increased respiratory rate and wheezing. What does this indicate?

The presence of increased respiratory rate and wheezing in a patient with a history of asthma strongly indicates bronchoconstriction. Asthma is characterized by inflammation and constriction of the airways, which leads to difficulty in breathing. Wheezing is a common auscultatory finding in asthmatic patients and indicates that air is moving through narrowed airways, producing the characteristic high-pitched sound.

Increased respiratory rate often occurs as the body attempts to compensate for reduced airflow and maintain adequate oxygenation. This response is a direct result of the obstruction caused by bronchoconstriction. Therefore, the combination of a rapid respiratory rate and wheezing is indicative of the underlying bronchial narrowing associated with an asthma exacerbation, confirming that bronchoconstriction is occurring.