Which of the following is a sign of the sympathetic (fight or flight) response?

• A. Nausea
• B. Decreased blood glucose levels
• C. Constricted pupils
• D. Increased respirations

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that the sympathetic (fight or flight) system readies the body for quick action by boosting oxygen intake, energy availability, and alertness. Increased respirations reflect this readiness: breathing speeds up to deliver more oxygen to muscles and remove carbon dioxide as the body prepares to act. The other options don’t fit the signature response—nausea isn’t a primary autonomic marker of stress, blood glucose actually rises with sympathetic activation (not decreases), and pupils dilate rather than constrict to improve vision.