The Nurse Is Triaging Patients Through the ED

The nurse is triaging patients through the ED.An adult admission has a respiratory rate of 32 breaths per minute.The patient is not injured, but was brought to the ED because she started gasping after witnessing a drive-by shooting.The nurse recognizes that the patient's rapid breathing is probably driven by:

A) Increased perfusion in the cerebral cortex.
B) Increased perfusion in the alveolar capillary bed.
C) A sudden increase in blood pressure.
D) Brainstem activity.