What would you observe in a patient experiencing hypoxemia?

In a patient experiencing hypoxemia, cyanosis is a key observation. Hypoxemia occurs when there is a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues, leading to a lack of oxygenated blood. As a result, peripheral tissues, particularly those in the extremities, may develop a bluish discoloration, known as cyanosis, due to the presence of deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood. This is a clinical sign that indicates insufficient oxygenation and can be observed in various areas of the body, such as lips, face, fingertips, and toes.

Bradycardia, although it can occur in some situations relating to decreased oxygenation, is not a direct or consistent sign of hypoxemia. Similarly, hypertension is not typically associated with hypoxemia; instead, the body's response may often lead to other variations in blood pressure. Therefore, among the presented options, cyanosis stands out as the direct manifestation of hypoxemia, making it the appropriate observation to expect in such a clinical scenario.