After abdominal surgery, the patient fears pain and experiences physiological changes when pain is introduced. Which cardiovascular change is most likely to occur as a result of this stressor?

• A. Increased blood pressure
• B. Vasoconstriction of the skin
• C. Increased peristalsis
• D. Constriction of the bronchioles

Answer: (A)

Pain after surgery triggers a fight‑or‑flight response, activating the sympathetic nervous system and releasing catecholamines. These hormones make the heart beat faster and with more force and cause peripheral vessels to constrict. The combination increases cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance, raising overall blood pressure. That’s why an increased blood pressure is the most likely cardiovascular change under this stress.

Other responses mentioned are not the main cardiovascular change here: skin vasoconstriction is a peripheral effect of sympathetic activity; bronchiolar constriction is opposite of the typical stress response (bronchiolar dilation is more expected); and intestinal motility usually slows rather than increases during acute stress.