Respiratory and Cardiovascular Disorders Quiz

Respiratory Symptoms and Conditions

• Increased drive to breathe often indicates hypoxia or hypercapnia, prompting enhanced respiratory efforts.
• Dyspnea refers to perceived difficulty in breathing; can result from various pulmonary or cardiac issues.
• Orthopnea is dyspnea that occurs while lying flat; commonly seen in congestive heart failure.
• Platypnea is dyspnea that improves when lying down, often linked to certain types of pulmonary conditions.
• Phlegm is thick mucus produced in the respiratory tract during infection or inflammation.
• Sputum refers to mucus coughed up from the lower airways, usually associated with infection or chronic lung diseases.
• Mucus serves as a protective barrier in the respiratory tract, trapping pathogens and particles.
• Pus indicates infection or inflammation; can be present in sputum during conditions like pneumonia or bronchitis.
• Hemoptysis is the expectoration of blood; may suggest serious conditions such as tuberculosis or lung cancer.

Cardiac and Edema Considerations

• Angina is chest pain due to myocardial ischemia; can result from coronary artery disease.
• Causes of pedal edema include heart failure, kidney dysfunction, liver disease, and venous insufficiency.
• Breathing rates can be influenced by fever, as increased body temperature often raises metabolic demands.

Vital Signs and Differential Diagnosis

• Normal blood pressure (BP) ranges typically are around 120/80 mmHg; monitoring is essential for assessing cardiovascular health.
• Brachial and radial arteries are common sites for pulse palpation, important for assessing circulation.
• Differential diagnosis involves distinguishing between various possible conditions based on symptoms and clinical findings.

Respiratory Rate and Temperature Measures

• Tachypnea refers to abnormally high respiratory rates; may result from anxiety, pain, or metabolic disorders.
• Rectal temperatures are considered accurate for fever assessment, especially in children; fever generally indicates infection or inflammation.

Smoking History Assessment

• Pack-year history is calculated by multiplying the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day by the number of years smoked; important for assessing risk of lung diseases.

Test your knowledge on various respiratory and cardiovascular system disorders, including causes of dyspnea, orthopnea, and pedal edema. This quiz also covers diagnostic techniques and key physiological measurements relevant to these systems.