Common Diagnoses and Diseases

Question 1

Cirrhosis

Answer 1

late-stage liver disease and scarring caused by one of many things, most commonly chronic alcohol abuse and viral hepatitis

Question 2

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Answer 2

the formation of a clot (thrombus) in a large vein, typically in the lower extremities; may break off and travel to the lungs as a life-threatening pulmonary embolus

Question 3

Pancreatitis

Answer 3

inflammation of the pancreas that presents with upper abdominal pain and nausea/vomiting; commonly associated with chronic alcohol abuse

Question 4

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

Answer 4

condition in which the heart is unable to adequately circulate blood through the body causing enlargement of the heart and fluid buildup; may cause life-threatening respiratory concerns

Question 5

Diabetes Mellitus (DM)

Answer 5

a chronic condition marked by abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood by one of two mechanisms; commonly just “diabetes”

Question 6

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Answer 6

inflammation of the lining of the stomach and the intestine which presents with vomiting and diarrhea

Question 7

Gastritis

Answer 7

inflammation of the lining of the stomach which typically presents with vomiting

Question 8

Myocardial Infraction (MI)

Answer 8

damage or death of heart tissue caused by the sudden blockage of blood supply to an area of the heart; technical term for “heart attack”

Question 9

Hepatitis

Answer 9

the most common cause of liver inflammation most often caused by a virus

Question 10

Sepsis

Answer 10

general term used by medical professionals to describe a body state of systemic inflammation, resulting from a widespread infection; sometimes called “blood poisoning”

Question 11

Cholelithiasis

Answer 11

technical term for gallstones; usually accompanied by severe abdominal pain and nausea/vomiting that is worse after eating greasy food

Question 12

Diverticultis

Answer 12

infection of small outpouchings (diverticula) in the colon which can lead to potentially dangerous systemic complications

Question 13

Degeneratie Joint Disease (DID)

Answer 13

a common form of arthritis marked by breakdown of the cartilage in joints causing pain and stiffness

Question 14

Nephrolithiasis

Answer 14

a condition marked by the formation of small, hard mineral deposits in the kidneys; the passage of these deposits, commonly called “kidney stones” can be extremely painful and cause blood in the urine

Question 15

Asthma

Answer 15

chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that can cause shortness of breath and chest tightness

Question 16

Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

Answer 16

a life-threatening obstruction of blood vessels in the lungs by a clot, typically from a DVT that has traveled from the lower extremities

Question 17

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Answer 17

a temporary lack of adequate blood and oxygen to the brain different from a CVA primarily by the duration of its neurologic deficit(s); commonly called a “mini-stroke”

Question 18

Clostridium difficile (C. diff)

Answer 18

a highly contagious bacteria disease that causes severe diarrhea and potentially life-threatening inflammation

Question 19

DIabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)

Answer 19

a life-threatening complication of poorly-controlled diabetes which causes the body to produce high levels of ketones which leads to chemical imbalance in the body

Question 20

Bell’s Palsy

Answer 20

temporary paralysis of Cranial Nerve VII causing facial droop on one side of the face; commonly causes concern for stroke because of its presentation

Question 21

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Answer 21

chronic, irreversible lung disease that restricts the airway causing shortness of breath; often associated with smoking

Question 22

Pneumothorax (PTX)

Answer 22

collapsed lung caused by the buildup of air or other gases in the chest cavity; can be caused spontaneously from disease or result from trauma

Question 23

Hyperlipidemia (HLD)

Answer 23

the presence of excess lipids/fats in the blood; commonly used interchangeably with simply “high cholesterol”

Question 24

Cholecystisis

Answer 24

inflammation of the gallbladder that typically requires surgical intervention

Question 25

Cellulitis

Answer 25

a potentially life-threatening infection underneath the surface of the skin that is typically accompanied by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain

Question 26

Ectopic Pregnancy

Answer 26

a potentially dangerous pregnancy that forms anywhere outside of the lining of the uterus, typically in the Fallopian tubes

Question 27

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Answer 27

blockage of one or more arteries which supply blood to the heart; commonly called simply “heart disease”

Question 28

Pneumonia

Answer 28

a potentially dangerous inflammation of one or both lungs typically presenting with fever, productive cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath

Question 29

Intracranial bleed (also known as intracranial hemorrhage)

Answer 29

any type of abnormal bleeding in the brain, typically confirmed on CT scan; common types include subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), epidural hematoma, and subdural hematoma (SDH)

Question 30

End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

Answer 30

the fifth and most severe stage of chronic kidney disease; this total failure of the kidneys requires dialysis or transplant

Question 31

Meningitis

Answer 31

a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the meninges (the membranous covering of the brain and spinal cord)

Question 32

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

Answer 32

an enlarged area in the lower part of the aorta; can be stable but rupture is a serious, life-threatening condition

Question 33

Apeendicitis

Answer 33

Inflammation associated with infection of the appendix that typically requires surgical intervention

Question 34

Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO)

Answer 34

potentially dangerous obstruction of normal progress through the small intestine that may require surgical intervention

Question 35

Gastrointestinal bleed (GIB)

Answer 35

potentially dangerous bleeding somewhere along the GI tract that can lead to severe anemia

Question 36

Anemia

Answer 36

a condition marked by less than normal total red blood cells or less than normal total hemoglobin; can be stable or acute from some source of bleeding

Question 37

Pyelonephritis

Answer 37

potentially dangerous, severe infection of the kidney caused by bacteria that has ascended up the ureters from the bladder; commonly called “pyelo” for short

Question 38

Hypertension (HTN)

Answer 38

abnormally high arterial blood pressure; typically over 140 systolic and/or 90 diastolic

Question 39

Vertigo

Answer 39

a condition marked by a “room spinning” dizziness typically caused by an inner ear problem

Question 40

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)

Answer 40

technical term for a stroke; caused either by a blood clot in the brain (ischemic stroke) or the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke)