Emergency Response for Heart & Respiratory Issues

• A patient with an acute abdomen has an abdomen that is irritated or infected.
• Angina pectoris rarely lasts more than 5 minutes and is often relieved by nitroglycerin.
• A patient whose heart is weak and not pumping properly will likely experience congestion of the blood vessels of the lungs, causing breathing difficulties.
• Complete blockage of a heart artery results in a heart attack.
• The first step in caring for a patient with chest pain is to summon additional help.
• A crushing sensation in the chest likely indicates a heart attack or an angina attack.
• The first concern when someone may be having a heart attack is to call for additional help.
• The second concern for a suspected heart attack patient is to make the person comfortable.
• If a heart attack patient goes into cardiac arrest, the first action is to begin CPR.
• The first step for patients having difficulty breathing is to check for airway obstruction.
• A false statement about asthma is that pursed-lip breathing offers no benefit.
• The first priority in treating a stroke patient is to maintain the airway and give oxygen if possible.
• The second priority in treating a stroke patient is to watch for convulsions.
• The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale measures facial droop, arm drift, and abnormal speech.
• Insulin allows glucose in the blood to be used as fuel in the body's cells.
• A person with diabetes has low insulin levels and must supplement insulin levels with injections or oral medication.
• A person in insulin shock must receive glucose.
• Insulin shock symptoms should be considered different from other types of shock.
• The genitourinary system is located in the abdomen.
• Frequent urination is not linked to an acute abdomen.
• Angina is not considered a risk factor for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
• The first step for an abdominal aortic aneurysm patient is to place the patient in a comfortable position and arrange for prompt transport.
• A patient with chronic renal failure may have a shunt implanted in his or her arm for hemodialysis.
• CPR is not part of the patient assessment sequence.
• If a patient is seizing on a hard surface, the EMR can keep the patient's airway open.
• The letters in SAMPLE will help an EMR remember the steps of collecting a medical history.
• Once a seizure has stopped, the first action is to ensure an open airway.
• An important reason to locate a patient's dialysis shunt is to assess for signs of infection.
• A patient complaining of tearing abdominal pain accompanied by shoulder pain may be experiencing an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
• A patient experiencing a diabetic coma may appear intoxicated.
• It is false that people with low blood pressure have an increased risk of stroke.
• Tightness in the chest is not a sign of stroke.
• Layers of fat coating the inner walls of the arteries is called atherosclerosis.
• A false statement about angina pectoris is that it may cause severe abdominal pain.
• Nitroglycerin should be placed under the tongue.
• A heart attack causes part of the heart muscle to die.
• For chest pain, the EMR should help the patient find a comfortable position if they are short of breath, weak, sweating, and nauseated and complains of crushing pain from the chest to the left arm or jaw.
• The patient will be short of breath if the heart is not pumping adequately, and the circulatory system becomes unbalanced
• Shortness of breath, rapid and shallow breathing, moist or gurgling respirations, profuse sweating, and swollen ankles are all signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure.
• EMR treatment of a patient with congestive heart failure includes placing the legs lower than the rest of the body.
• A diabetic who has taken insulin but has not eaten enough food may become dizzy or confused .
• A state of sickness that occurs when the body has too much glucose and not enough insulin is a diabetic coma.
• A disease in which the body is unable to use glucose normally because of a deficiency or total lack of insulin is diabetes.
• Insulin shock can occur quickly.
• A rapid, weak pulse; deep, rapid breathing; and a history of diabetes are signs and symptoms of a diabetic coma.

This overview covers recognizing and responding to acute abdominal issues, angina, heart failure, and heart attacks. Key steps include summoning help, ensuring patient comfort, and initiating CPR when necessary. Airway obstruction and asthma management are also addressed.