Mod 4 Flashcards
aspirin
medication used to reduced the clotting ability of blood
atomizer
device attached to the end of syringe that atomizes blood
contraindications
specific signs or circumstances under which it is not appropriate and may be harmful to administer a drug to a patient
enteral
referring to a route of medication administration that uses the gastrointestinal tract, such as swallowing a pill
epinephrine
a drug that helps to constrict the blood vessels and relax passages of the airway. may be used to counter a severe allergic reaction.
indications
specific signs or circumstances under which it is appropriate to administer a drug to a patient
inhaler
a spray device with a mouthpiece that contains an aerosol form of a medication that a patient can spray into their airway
nitroglycerin
a drug that helps to dilate the coronary vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood
oral glucose
a form of glucose given by mouth to treat an awake patient with an altered mental status and history of diabetes
glucose
a kind of sugar
oxygen
a gas commonly found in the atmosphere. used as a medication to treat a patient who may be hypoxic or low in oxygen
parentarel
referring to a route of medication that does not use the gastrointestinal tract, such as an n medication
pharmacodynamics
the study of the effects of medication on the body
pharmacology
the study of drugs, their sources, their characteristics, and their effects
side effect
any action to a drug other than the desired action
untoward effect
an effect of a medication in addition to its desired effect that be potentially harmful to the patient
bronchoconstriction
constriction or blockage of the bronchi that leads from the trachea to the lungs
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
a form of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) consisting of a mask and means of blowing oxygen or air into the mask to prevent airway collapse or to help alleviate dificulty breathing
exhalation
another term for expiration
expiration
a passive process in which the intercostal (rib) muscles and the diaphragm relax, causing the chest cavity to decrease in size and force air from the lungs) (breathe out)
inhalation
another term for inspiration
inspiration
an active process in which the intercostal (rib) muscles and the diaphragm contract, expanding the size of the chest cavity and causing air to flow into the lungs
acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
a blanket term used to represent any symptoms related to lack of oxygen (ischemia) in the heart muscle. also called cardiac compromise.
acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
the condition in which a portion of the myocardium dies as a result of oxygen starvation; often called a heart attack by laypersons
agonal breathing
irregular, gasping breaths that preceed apnea and death
aneurysm
the dilation, or ballooning, of a weakened section of the wall of an artery
angina pectoris
pain in the chest occurring when blood supply to the heart is reduced and a portion of the heart muscle is not receiving enough oxygen
apnea
no breathing
asystole
a condition in which the heart has ceased generating electrical impulses. commonly called flatline
bradycardia
when the heart rates is slow, usually less than 60 beats per minute
cardiac compromise
see acute coronary syndrome
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
actions taken to revive a person by keeping the person’s heart and lungs working
cardiovascular system
the heart and the blood vessels
congestive heart failure (CHF)
the failure of the heart to pump efficiently, leading to excessive blood or fluids in the lungs, the body, or both
coronary artery disease (CAD)
disease that affect the arteries of the heart
defribilation
delivery of an electrical shock to stop fibrillation of heart muscles and restore a normal heart rythm
dyspnea
shortness of breath; labored or difficult breathing
dysrythmia
a disturbance in heart rate or rythym
edema
swelling resulting from a build up of fluid in the tissue
embolism
blockage of a vessel by a clot or foreign material brought to the site by the blood current
nitroglycerin
a medication that dilates the blood vessels
occlusion
blockage, as of an artery, by fatty deposits
pedal edema
accumulation of fluid in the feet or ankles
pulmonary edema
accumulation of fluids in the lungs
pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
a condition in which the heart’s electrical rhythm remains relatively normal, yet the mechanical pumping activity fails to follow the electrical activity causing cardiac arrest
sudden death
a cardiac arrest the occurs within 2 hours of the onset of symptoms. the patient may have no prior symptoms of coronary artery disease
tachycardia
when the heart rate is fast, usually more than 100 bpm
thrombus
a clot formed of blood and plaque attached to the inner wall of an artery or vein
ventricular fibrillation (VF)
a condition in which the heart’s electrical impulses are disorganized, preventing the heart muscle from contracting normally
ventricular tachycardia (V-tach)
a condition in which the heart beat is quite rapid, if rapid enough, ventricular tachycardia will not allow the heart’s chambers to fill with enough blood between beats to produce blood flow sufficient to meet the body’s needs
aura
a sensation experienced by a seizure patient right before the seizure, which might be a smell, sound, or general feeling
diabetes mellitus
also called sugar diabetes or just diabetes, the condition brought about by decreased insulin production or the inability of the body cells to use insulin properly. person with this condition is a diabetic
diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
a condition that occurs as the result of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), characterized by dehydration, altered mental status, and shock
epilepsy
a medical condition that causes seizures
generalized seizure
a seizure that affects both sides of the brain
glucose
a form of sugar, the body’s basic source of energy
hyperglycemia
high blood sugar
hypoglycemia
low blood sugar
insulin
a hormone produced by the pancreas or taken as a medication by many diabetics
partial seizure
a seizure affects only one part or one side of the brain
postictal phase
the period of time immediately following a tonic-clonic seizure in which the patient goes from full loss of consciousness to mental status
reticular activating system (RAS)
series of neurologic circuits in the brain that control the functions of staying awake, paying attention, and sleeping
seizure
a sudden change in sensation, behavior, or movement. the most severe of seizure produces violent muscle contractions called convulsions
sepsis
infection, especially severe, systemwide response to infection
status epilepticus
a prolonged seizure or situation when a person suffers two or more convulsive seizures without regaining full consiousness
stroke
a condition of altered function caused when an artery in the brain is blocked or ruptured, disrupting the supply of oxygenated or causing bleeding into the brain. formerly called a cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
syncope
fainting
tonic-clonic
a generalized seizure in which the patient loses consciousness and has jerking movements of paired muscle groups
allergen
something that causes an allergic reaction
allergic reaction
an exaggerated immune response
anaphylaxis
a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction in which the blood vessels dilate, causing a drop in blood pressure, and the tissues lining the respiratory system swell, interfering with the airway. also called anaphylactic shock
auto-injector
a syringe preloaded with medication that has a spring-loaded device that pushes the needle through the skin when the tip of the device is pressed firmly against the body
epinephrine
a hormone produced by the body. as a medication, it constricts blood vessels and dilates respiratory passages and is used to relieve severe alllergic reactions
hives
red, itchy, possibly raised blotches on the skin that often result from allergic reactions
absorbed posions
poisons that are taken into the body through unbroken skin
activated charcoal
a substance that absorbs many poisons and prevents them from being absorbed by the body
antidote
a substance that will neutralize the poison or its affects
delirium tremens (DTs)
a severe reaction that can be part of alcohol withdrawal, characterized by sweating, trembling, anxiety, and hallucinations. severe alcohol with the DTs can lead to death if untreated
dilution
thinning down or weakening by mixing with something else. ingested poisons are sometimes diluted by drinking water or milk
downers
depressants, such as barbiturates, that depress the central nervous system, which are often used to bring on a more relaxed state of mind.
hallucinogens
mind-affecting or mind-altering drugs that act on the central nervous system to produce excitement and distortion of perceptions
ingested posions
poisons that are swallowed
inhaled poisons
poisons that are breathed in
injected poisons
poisons that are inserted through the skin, for example, by needle, snake fangs, or insect stinger
narcotics
a class of drugs that affect the nervous system and change many normal body activities. their legal use is for the relief of pain. illicit use is to produce an intense state of relaxation
poison
any substance that can harm the body by altering cell structure or functions
toxin
a poisonous substance secreted by bacteria, plants, or animals
uppers
stimulants such as amphetamines that affect the central nervous system to excite the user
volatile chemicals
vaporizing compounds, such as cleaning fluid, that are breathed in by the abuser to produce a “high”
withdrawal
referring to alcohol or drug withdrawal in which the patients body reacts severely when deprived of the abused substance
parietal pain
a localized, intense pain that arises from the parietal peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity
peritoneum
the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity (the parietal peritoneum) and covers the organs within it (the visceral peritoneum
referred pain
pain that is felt in a location other than where the pain originates
retroperitoneal space
the are posterior to the peritoneum, between the peritoneum and the back
tearing pain
sharp pain that feels as if body tissues are being torn apart
visceral pain
a poorly localized, dull, or diffuse pain that arises from the abdominal organs, or viscera
behavior
the manner in which the person acts
behavioral emergency
when a patients behavior is not typical for the situation; when the patient’s behavior is unacceptable or intolerable to the patients, his family, or the community; or when the patient may harm himself or others
excited delirium
bizarre and/or aggressive behavior, shouting, paranoia, panic, violence toward others, insensitivity to pain, unexpected physical strength, hyperthermia, usually associated with cocaine or amphetamine use. also called agitated delirium
positional asphyxia
inadequate breathing or respiratory arrest caused by a body position that restricts breathing
anemia
lack of a normal number of red blood cells in the circulation
coagulopathy
loss of the normal ability to form a blood clot with internal or external bleeding
continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)
a gravity exchange process for peritoneal dialysis in which a bag of dialysis fluid is raised above the level of an abdominal catheter to fill the abdominal cavity and lowered below he level of the abdominal catheter to drain the fluid out
continuous cycler-assisted peritoneal dialysis (CCPD)
a mechanical process for peritoneal dialysis in which a machine fills and empties the abdominal cavity of dialysis solution
dialysis
the process by which toxins and excess fluid are removed from the body by a medical system independent of the kidneys
end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
irreversible renal failure to the extent that the kidneys can no longer provide adequate filtration and fluid balance to sustain life; survival with ESRD usually requires dialysis
exchange
one cycle of filling and draining the peritoneal cavity in peritoneal dialysis
peritonitis
bacterial infection within the peritoneal cavity
pyelonephritis
an infection that begins in the urinary tract and ascends up the ureter into the kidney
renal failure
loss of the kidneys’ ability to filter the blood and remove toxins and excess fluids from the body
sickle cell anemia (SCA)
an inherited disease in which a genetic defect in the hemoglobin results in abnormal structure of the red blood cells
thrill
a vibration felt on the gentle palpation, such as that which typically occurs within an arterial-venous fistula
urinary catheter
a drainage tube placed into the urinary system to allow the flow of urine out of the body
adequate breathing
breathing sufficient to support life
