Cardiovascular Emergencies

Question 1

What is atherosclerosis?

Answer 1

buildup of calcium and cholesterol in the arteries

Question 2

What causes an AMI?

Answer 2

If a clot lodges in a coronary artery. Causes death to heart tissue and stop the heart from pumping at all

Question 3

State controllable AMI risk factors

Answer 3

Cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, lack of exercise, and obesity

Question 4

State uncontrollable AMI risk factors

Answer 4

Older age, family history, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, race, ethnicity, and being male

Question 5

True or false? Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for men and women

Answer 5

True

Question 6

What are the signs and symptoms of AMI?

Answer 6

Weakness, nausea, sweating
Chest pain, discomfort, or pressure
Lower jaw, arm, back, abdomen, or neck pain
Irregular heartbeat and syncope (fainting)
Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
Nausea/vomiting
Pink, frothy sputum
Sudden death

Question 7

What is asystole?

Answer 7

The absence of all electrical activity in the heart

Question 8

When is a heart rate considered tachycardia?

Answer 8

100 bpm or more

Question 9

When is a heart rate considered bradycardia?

Answer 9

60 bpm or less

Question 10

What is ventricular tachycardia?

Answer 10

rapid heart rhythm, usually at 150-200 bpm. Electrical activity starts in ventricle instead of the atrium.

Question 11

What is ventricular fibrillation?

Answer 11

disorganized, ineffective quivering of ventricles. No blood is pumped through the body and patient is unconscious in seconds.

Question 12

What happens during left side heart failure?

Answer 12

Pulmonary edema occurs because the left side of the heart fails to pump blood effectively. The pulmonary veins get backed up. May be acute or chronic.

Question 12

What happens during right side heart failure?

Answer 12

Blood backs up in the venae cavae, resulting in edema in lower extremities or distention of neck veins

Question 13

What numbers are considered hypertension?

Answer 13

A systolic > 130 mmHg or diastolic > 80 mm Hg

Question 14

What is a hypertensive emergency?

Answer 14

systolic greater than 180 mm Hg in the presence of impending or progressive organ damage.

Question 15

Common symptom of hypertensive emergencies

Answer 15

Sudden severe headache, strong bounding pulse, tinnitus, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, warm skin (dry or moist), nosebleed, altered mental status, sudden pulmonary edema

Question 16

What is the primary cause of aortic aneurysm?

Answer 16

uncontrolled hypertension

Question 17

Signs of aortic aneurysm?

Answer 17

Sudden onset sharp and tearing chest pain. Different blood pressure between arms.

Question 18

State risk factors for coronary artery disease

Answer 18

Smoking, high BP, high cholesterol

Question 19

What is furosemide (Lasix)

Answer 19

a diuretic

Question 20

What is digoxin

Answer 20

a medication that increases strength of heart contractions

Question 21

what is metoprolol (Toprol)

Answer 21

a medication that lowers BP

Question 22

Contraindications of apirin

Answer 22

allergy, Hx of internal bleeding like stomach ulcers

Question 23

Contraindications of nitroglycerin?

Answer 23

systolic BP < 100 mm Hg, head injury, use of ED meds in the last 24 hrs, and max prescribed dose already taken

Question 24

How to administer nitroglycerin?

Answer 24

obtain order from med control, take BP, ensure 7 rights of medication administration, ask about last dose and effect, give medication, recheck BP within 5 min

Question 25

State placement of a 4 lead ECG

Answer 25

White on right, clouds over grass, smoke over fire