Signs Symptoms And Treatment Flashcards
Angina – Signs and symptoms
Central or left cramping chest pain which last for more than one minute
May have heaviness, pressure, or tightness across chest
May have numbness, tingling or pain radiating to the neck, jaw, shoulder or down one arm (usually left)
Nausea, cold and sweating or feeling weak
Difficulty breathing
Displays anxiety and fear
May have previous history of angina or heat attack
Angina – treatment
Begin the primary and secondary assessment as appropriate
Access for chest pain radiating to shoulders, arm and neck regions, ask for casualty history of angina for heart attack
If Casualty has their own medicine then assist them to take it if they don’t have their own GTN spray with them but are prescribed it then offer the from the physicians kit otherwise directed by a medical practitioner
Heart attack signs and symptoms
● Central chest pain, tingling or numbness that spreads to the neck, jaw, shoulder and usually down one arm.
● A cramping chest pain that is consistent. It may be described as feeling like indigestion with a possible feeling of pressure, tightness and heaviness across the chest.
● Nausea and/or vomiting.
● Difficulty with breathing.
● Anxiety, restlessness and fear.
● May loose consciousness.
● May have a history of previous heart attack or Angina.
Heart attack - treatment
- Begin your Primary and Secondary assessment as appropriate.
- Seek Urgent medical advice.
- Reassure the casualty.
- Administer “High” flow oxygen.
- If the casualty has their own medication, assist them to take it. If they do or do not have their own medication offer the Nitrolingual spray from the physician’s kit. (Only give Nitrolingual spray to someone who has angina medication prescribed unless otherwise directed by a Registered Medical Practitioner).
- Have the person rest in the semi-sitting position and loosen any restrictive clothing.
- Prepare for a full cardiac arrest; get someone to retrieve the Physicians Kit, Defibrillator and an oxygen bottle.
Deep Vein Thrombosis signs and symptoms
Pain and tenderness felt especially in one leg.
● Swelling and the feeling of isolated warmth with redness in the leg.
● If looking at the leg you can see enlarged veins under the skin compared with the other leg.
● Casualty may have a history of Deep Vein Thrombosis or has known risk factors.
● Casualty may have discomfort and/or breathlessness.
Treatment of Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Ensure the casualty does not massage the area (this can dislodge the clot).
- Ensure the casualty remains still and does not move around if you suspect DVT.
- Seek urgent medical advice.
- Assess the casualty for discomfort and/or breathlessness, if they are experiencing any of the above give oxygen on Hi flow.
- Assess the casualty’s legs for any signs e.g. swelling, redness and isolated pain.
- Ask the casualty if they have any of the risk factors e.g. previous DVT, recent surgery etc.
Decompression Sickness - Signs and symptoms 
● Joint pains.
● Skin tingling and discomfort.
● Can cause weakness, tingling or numbness, chest tightness, dizziness or even collapse.
Decompression sickness – treatment
- If any passenger who becomes unwell was recently diving then medical advice should be sought. The immediate treatment includes oxygen, descent and transfer to a hyperbaric chamber.
- Air New Zealand crew should never fly within 24 hours after SCUBA diving, and if you have dived for multiple days it would be wise to extend this to 48 hours.
Asthma – signs and symptoms
● Dry, tickly cough.
● Wheezing.
● Tightness in the chest.
● Difficulty with breathing.
● Anxiety and Distress.
● Difficulty speaking [the shorter the sentence the more severe the asthma attack].
● Possible loss of consciousness and/or respiratory arrest.
Asthma - treatment
- Ask the casualty if they have Asthma and if they respond “yes”, ask if they have their own medication and if they are able to self administer.
- If they do not have medication request for crew assistance to:
● retrieve the physicians kit and an oxygen bottle
● page for a doctor
● contact MedLink.
Hyperventilation – signs and symptoms
Tingling (hands, feet, face).
● Dizziness.
● Spots before the eyes.
● Flushing.
● Sweating.
● Cramping of fingers.
● A feeling of anxiety, and sometimes chest tightness or even cramps in the hands.
Fainting can occur but is short-lived and harmless. The first symptom of hypoxia tends to be dizziness for most people.
Hyperventilation – treatment
At altitude you must always remember that hyperventilation could be due to hypoxia in which case a paper bag will not be good treatment.
1. The safest course of action is always to administer oxygen first. This will not do any harm to somebody who is hyperventilating from anxiety, it will probably do some good as it will be reassuring.
2. If after 10 minutes it is not helping, turn off the oxygen flow from the bottle (without being obvious) and leave the mask attached to patient’s face.
3. Continually reassure and encourage ‘normal’ breathing.
4. If the casualty faints, re-administer oxygen.
Note: Hypoxia also causes hyperventilation and so if in doubt, assume hypoxia and give oxygen.
Hypoxia - Signs and symptoms 
Confusion/disorientation
Severe headaches
Reduced level of consciousness
Shortness of breath
Rapid heart rate
Sweating
Blueish skin tone
Anxiety
Hypoxia – treatment
Administration of a sufficient oxygen supply
Must remain on oxygen
Also treat for shock
The normal flight administer using a portable oxygen bottle
Emergency oxygen masks which rock
Most common in flight medical issue is mild hypoxia usually in combined with one of the 4 A’s
Central or left cramping chest pain which last for more than one minute
May have heaviness, pressure, or tightness across chest
May have numbness, tingling or pain radiating to the neck, jaw, shoulder or down one arm (usually left)
Nausea, cold and sweating or feeling weak
Difficulty breathing
Displays anxiety and fear
May have previous history of angina or heat attack
Angina
