Which of the following is NOT a sign of respiratory distress?

Respiratory distress includes a range of observable signs that indicate someone is struggling to breathe effectively. Rapid breathing, cyanosis (a bluish tint to the skin indicating low oxygen levels), and wheezing (a whistling sound during breathing caused by narrowed airways) are all indicative of respiratory issues.

Strong coughing, while it can be a symptom of various respiratory conditions, is not a direct indicator of respiratory distress in the same way the other signs are. Coughing may be a reflex reaction to clear an irritant or obstruction in the respiratory tract and does not necessarily reflect the sufficiency of breathing or oxygenation. In fact, a strong cough can sometimes help clear airways and improve breathing efficiency, thus making it less indicative of distress. It’s important to differentiate between signs that clearly indicate a failure to breathe effectively versus those that may be a symptom of an underlying condition but do not directly signal distress.