15. Respiratory Emergencies

Question 1

The buildup of excess acid in the blood or body tissues that results from a primary illness.

Answer 1

acidosis

Question 2

Abnormal breath sounds such as wheezing, stridor, rhonchi, and crackles.

Answer 2

adventitious breath sounds

Question 3

The buildup of excess use (lack of acids) in the body fluids.

Answer 3

alkalosis

Question 4

A substance that causes an allergic reaction.

Answer 4

allergen

Question 5

An extreme, life-threatening, systemic allergic reaction that may include shock and respiratory failure.

Answer 5

anaphylaxis (anaphylactic shock)

Question 6

An acute spasm of the smaller air passages, called bronchioles, associated with excessive mucus production and with swelling of the mucous lining of the respiratory passages.

Answer 6

asthma

Question 7

Collapse of the alveolar air spaces of the lungs.

Answer 7

atelectasis

Question 8

Normal breath sounds made by air moving through the bronchi.

Answer 8

bronchial breath sounds

Question 9

Inflammation of the bronchioles that usually occurs in children younger than 2 years and is often caused by the respiratory syncytial virus.

Answer 9

bronchiolitis

Question 10

An acute or chronic inflammation of the lung that may damage lung tissue;
usually associated with cough and production of sputum and, depending on its cause, sometimes fever.

Answer 10

bronchitis

Question 11

A condition characterized by a chronically high blood level of carbon dioxide in which the respiratory center no longer responds to high blood levels of carbon dioxide.

Answer 11

carbon dioxide retention

Question 12

A slow process of dilation and disruption of the airways and alveoli caused by chronic bronchial obstruction.

Answer 12

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Question 13

A method of ventilation used primarily in the treatment of critically ill patients with respiratory distress; can prevent the need for endotracheal intubation.

Answer 13

continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

Question 14

Crackling, rattling breath sounds signaling fluid in the air spaces of the lungs; formerly called rales.

Answer 14

crackles

Question 15

An inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory system that may cause a partial airway obstruction and is characterized by a barking cough; usually seen in children.

Answer 15

croup

Question 16

An infectious disease in which a membrane forms, lining the pharynx; this lining can severely obstruct the passage of air into the larynx.

Answer 16

diphtheria

Question 17

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Answer 17

dyspnea

Question 18

A blood clot or other substance in the circulatory system that travels to a blood vessel where it causes a blockage.

Answer 18

embolus

Question 19

A disease of the lungs in which there is extreme dilation and eventual destruction of the pulmonary alveoli with poor exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide; it is one form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Answer 19

emphysema

Question 20

A disease in which the epiglottis becomes inflamed and enlarged and may cause an upper airway obstruction.

Answer 20

epiglottitus

Question 21

An allergic response usually to outdoor airborne allergens such as pollen or sometimes indoor allergens such as dust mites or pet dander; also called allergic rhinitis

Answer 21

hay fever

Question 22

Rapid or deep breathing that lowers the blood carbon dioxide level below normal.

Answer 22

hyperventilation

Question 23

This syndrome occurs in the absence of other physical problems. The respirations of a person who is experiencing hyperventilation syndrome may be as high as 40 shallow breaths/min or as low as only 20 very deep breaths/min.

Answer 23

hyperventilation syndrome (panic attack)

Question 24

A condition in which the body’s cells and tissues do not have enough oxygen.

Answer 24

hypoxia

Question 25

A condition in which chronically low levels of oxygen in the blood stimulate the respiratory drive; seen in patients with chronic lung disease.

Answer 25

hypoxic drive

Question 26

Virus that has crossed the animal/human barrier and has infected humans, recently reaching a pandemic level with the H1N1 strain.

Answer 26

influenza type A

Question 27

A miniture spray canister used to direct medications through the mouth and into the lungs.

Answer 27

metered dose inhaler (MDI)

Question 28

Severe dyspnea experienced when lying down and relieved by sitting up.

Answer 28

orthopnea

Question 29

The process of delivering oxygen to the blood.

Answer 29

oxygenation

Question 30

An outbreak that occurs on a global scale.

Answer 30

pandemic

Question 31

Severe shortness of breath, especially at night after several hours of reclining; the person is forced to sit up to breathe.

Answer 31

paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Question 32

An airborne bacterial infection that affects mostly children younger than 6 years. Patients will be feverish and exhibit a “whoop” sound on inspiration after a coughing attack; highly contagious through droplet infection.

Answer 32

pertussis (whooping cough)

Question 33

A collection of fluid between the lung and chest wall that may compress the lung.

Answer 33

pleural effusion pleuritic chest pain

Question 34

An infectious disease of the lung that damages lung tissue.

Answer 34

pneumonia

Question 35

A partial or complete accumulation of air in the pleural space.

Answer 35

pneumothorax

Question 36

A buildup of fluid in the lungs, usually as a result of congestive heart failure.

Answer 36

pulmonary edema

Question 37

A blood clot that breaks off from a large vein and travels to the blood vessels of the lung, causing obstruction of blood flow.

Answer 37

pulmonary embolism

Question 38

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Answer 38

respiration

Question 39

A virus that causes an infection of the lungs and breathing passages; can lead to other serious illnesses that affect the lungs or heart, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Highly contagious and spread through droplets.

Answer 39

respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Question 40

Coarse breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the airways.

Answer 40

rhonchi

Question 41

A respiratory device that holds liquid medicine turned into mist. The patient inhales meds into airways and lungs as treatment for conditions like asthma.

Answer 41

small-volume nebulizer

Question 42

A harsh, high-pitched, barking inspiratory sound often heard in the acute laryngeal (upper airway) obstruction.

Answer 42

stridor

Question 43

A disease that can lay dormant in a person’s lungs for decades, then reactivated. Many strains are resistant to antibiotics. Spread by cough

Answer 43

tuberculosis

Question 44

Exchange of air between the lungs and the environment, spontaneously by the patient of with assistance from another person, like an EMT.

Answer 44

ventilation

Question 45

Normal breath sounds made by air moving in and out of the alveoli.

Answer 45

vesicular breath sounds

Question 46

A high-pitched, whistling breath sounds, characteristically heard on expiration in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Answer 46

wheezing