Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)
Acute Myocardial Infarction - the condition in which a portion of the myocardium dies as a result of oxygen starvation; often called a heart attack by lay persons.
aneurysm
ballooning of a weakened portion of an arterial wall
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
arrhythmia
a disturbance in heart rate and rhythm
arteriosclerosis
a condition in which artery walls become hard and stiff due to calcium deposits.
asystole
A condition in which the heart has ceased generating electrical impulses.
atherosclerosis
a build-up of fatty deposits on the inner walls of arteries.
bradycardia
when the heart rate is slow, usually below 60 beats per minute.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Coronary Artery Disease - diseases that affect the arteries of the heart.
cardiac compromise
a blanket term for any heart problem
cardiovascular system
the heart and the blood vessels
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Congestive Heart Failure - the failure of the heart to pump efficiently, leading to excessive blood or fluids in the lungs, body, or both.
Dyspnea
shortness of breath; labored or difficult breathing
Edema
swelling resulting from a buildup of fluid in the tissues.
Embolism
a thrombus, or clot of blood and plaque, that has broken loose from the wall of an artery.
Emergency care of a patient in cardiac arrest includes what?
CPR; Determine if patient is a candidate for AED; Turn on defib; Begin narrative if AED has a voice recorder; Attach the monitoring-defib pads to cables; Bare the patient's chest; Press pads firmly on chest; Stop CPR and clear the patient
Nitroglycerin (NTG)
Nitroglycerin - a medication that dilates the blood vessels
occlusion
blockage, as of an artery by fatty deposits
Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA)
Pulseless Electrical Activity - 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.
pedal edema
accumulation of fluid in the feet or ankles
pulmonary edema
accumulation of fluid in the lungs
sudden death
a cardiac arrest that occurs within two hours of the onset of symptoms. The patient may have no prior symptoms of coronary artery disease.
tachycardia
when the heart rate is fast, above 100 beats per minute.
thrombus
a clot formed of blood and plaque attached to the inner wall of an artery.
Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)
Ventricular Fibrillation - a condition in which the heart's electrical impulses are disorganized, preventing the heart muscle from contracting normally.
Ventricular Tachycardia (V-Tach)
Ventricular Tachycardia - a condition in which the heartbeat is quite rapid; if rapid enough, ventricular tachycardia will not allow the heart's chambers to fill with blood between beats to produce blood flow sufficient to meet the body's needs.
What are the components to the "Chain of Survival"?
Early access; Early CPR; Early Defibrillation; Early Advanced Care
What conditions need to be met in order to administer nitroglycerin?
Patient complains of chest pain; Patient has a history of cardiac problems; Patient's physician has prescribed NTG; Patient has NTG with him; Systolic blood pressure is greater than 100; Medical direction authorizes administration of the medication.
What signs and symptoms are often associated with cardiac compromise?
Pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest or upper abdomen; Difficulty breathing; Palpitations; Sudden onset of sweating, nausea, or vomiting; Anxiety; Abnormal pulse; Abnormal blood pressure.