Cardiovascular Emergencies SAMPLE COURSE
Terms
Test your knowledge of the following terms
Terms You Should Know
acute myocardial infarction (AMI) - Death of heart muscle caused by blockage in a coronary artery.
aneurysm - A bulge in the wall of an artery that can burst. If an aneurysm bursts in a vital organ (e.g., brain) or in a major vessel (e.g., aorta), the results can be catastrophic.
angina - Chest pain (with squeezing or tightness in the chest) due to an inadequate blood supply to the heart muscle.
asystole - Absence of electrical activity in the heart.
atherosclerosis - A disease characterized by thickening and destruction of the arterial walls, caused by fatty deposits; arteries lose ability to dilate and carry oxygen-enriched blood.
cardiogenic shock - Shock resulting from inadequate functioning of the heart.
congestive heart failure (CHF) - A condition characterized by shortness of breath, fluid in the lungs and/or swelling of the body due to water retention usually in the lower legs. It is due to a damaged heart that cannot contract effectively.
coronary artery disease - A disease that causes the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle to become hardened and narrowed. Also called coronary heart disease.
diaphoresis - Perspiration or sweating due to a medical condition and not caused by normal exertion.
dyspnea - Deep, labored respirations.
dysrhythmia - Abnormal heart rhythm. Also called arrhythmia.
pedal edema - Fluid collecting in the feet which can indicate underlying heart disease. Often seen in CHF.
ventricular fibrillation (VF) - A dysrhythmia in which the heart muscle undergoes an ineffective, uncoordinated quivering.
New Terms
acute coronary syndrome (ACS) - A term used
to describe a range of symptoms and conditions from acute myocardial
infarction to unstable angina.
aortic dissection — A tear in the lining of the aorta. An aortic dissection can extend to the point that it obstructs arterial blood supply to vital organs.
infarction - Death of tissue due to loss of
blood flow.
ischemia - Poor oxygen supply to tissue.
myocardium - Another term for heart muscle.
necrosis - Tissue death.
pulmonary edema - Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the tissues and air spaces of the lungs. Pulmonary edema is most commonly associated with acute myocardial infarction or uncontrolled CHF.
sustained tachycardia - Persistent heart rate
of 100 or greater caused by a clinical condition such as hypoxia
or impending shock.
thrombus - A clot formed in a blood vessel or
in a chamber of the heart.
vasospasm - A sudden constriction of a blood
vessel.
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