A 30-year-old pregnant woman, currently 28 weeks gestation,…

A 30-year-old pregnant woman, currently 28 weeks gestation, presents for her routine prenatal check-up. She has no significant medical history and reports feeling generally well. On examination, her vital signs are as follows: blood pressure 110/70 mmHg, heart rate 92 bpm, respiratory rate 18 breaths per minute, and temperature 98.6°F. She is noted to have a mild, nonproductive cough, and an increased heart rate during her physical examination. Which is the most likely explanation for this patient’s findings and should be considered normal during pregnancy?