Cardiac Emergencies

Question 0

___________________ is an abnormal condition that affects the heart and blood vessels.

Answer 0

Cardiovascular disease.

Question 1

True or False: Performing CPR and using an automated external defibrillator immediately after a person goes into cardiac arrest can greatly increase their chance of survival.

Answer 1

True.

Question 2

What are some of the more common conditions caused by cardiovascular disease?

Answer 2

Coronary heart disease, and stroke.

Question 3

Coronary heart disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart harden and narrow. This process is called _______________.

Answer 3

Atherosclerosis.

Question 4

A heart attack can cause the heart to stop beating entirely. This is called _______________.

Answer 4

Cardiac arrest.

Question 5

What are some of the common signals of a heart attack?

Answer 5

Chest pain, discomfort or pressure that lasts 3 to 5 minutes or goes away and comes back.
Discomfort in other areas of the body in addition to the chest, such as shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, stomach or back.
Trouble breathing.
Pale or ashen skin, break into cold sweat, feel dizzy, become nauseous or vomit.

Question 6

What are the difference in signals between men and women during a heart attack?

Answer 6

Both men and women experience chest pain or discomfort. Women, however, are more likely to experience some of the other warning signs particularly shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, back or jaw pain and unexplained fatigue or malaise. When they do experience chest pain, its usually sudden, sharp but short-lived pain out the breastbone.

Question 7

If you suspect a person is having a heart attack based on their signals, what should you immediately do?

Answer 7

Call 911. The person having a heart attack may deny anything is wrong. DO NOT let this stop you from calling, you must act quickly.

Question 8

True or False: Most people who die of a heart attack die within 2 hours of the first signal.

Answer 8

True.

Question 9

What are some causes of cardiac arrest in children and infants?

Answer 9

Airway and breathing problems, traumatic injury, hard blow to the chest, congenital heart disease and SIDS.

Question 10

Cardiac arrest can also happen suddenly, without any warning. This is called _____________.

Answer 10

Sudden cardiac arrest, or sudden cardiac death.

Question 11

Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by abnormal, chaotic electrical activity of the heart known as ______________.

Answer 11

Arrhythmias.

Question 12

What is the Cardiac Chain of Survival?

Answer 12

1. Early recognition and early access to the EMS system.
2. Early CPR.
3. Early defibrillation.
4. Early advanced medical care.