Question 1

Which of the following factors increase the risk of heart disease?

Accepted Answer

Tobacco smoke is a well-documented risk factor for heart disease, as it contributes to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, leading to atherosclerosis.

Question 2

The common term "heart attack" is medically referred to as

Accepted Answer

Myocardial infarction is the medical term for what is commonly known as a heart attack. It occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked for a long enough time that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies.

Question 3

Your 65 year old male patient is complaining of "chest pressure" that radiates to his left elbow and shortness of breath. He is pale and his hands are cool to the touch. A bystander has already called 9-1-1. You should

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are indicative of a potential heart attack, and administering 100% oxygen via a non-rebreather mask is a standard emergency response to help increase the oxygen level in the blood, potentially alleviating heart strain until professional medical help arrives.

Question 4

Your unresponsive patient's breathing is labored at 10 breaths per minute, and his systolic blood pressure is 80 mmHg. His wife tells you that he was complaining of chest pain before collapsing. You should

Accepted Answer

The patient is in a critical condition with labored breathing, low respiratory rate, and low blood pressure, indicating possible shock or cardiac arrest. Immediate transport to a hospital is necessary for advanced care.

Question 5

Your patient is complaining of chest pain. In addition to performing a physical exam of the chest, you should also examine the

Accepted Answer

Examining the abdomen is important in patients complaining of chest pain because some abdominal conditions, such as gallbladder disease or peptic ulcer disease, can refer pain to the chest area.

Question 6

Your 45 year old patient is complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath. She tells you that she wants to walk downstairs to wait for the ALS ambulance outside in the fresh air. You should

Accepted Answer

Given the symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath, it's crucial to minimize the patient's physical exertion to prevent exacerbation of a potential cardiac condition. Convincing her to remain seated until advanced life support arrives is the safest option.

Question 7

What is the most important thing that you can do for your patient, while waiting for an AED, if you cannot detect a pulse or respirations?

Accepted Answer

Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the most critical action when a patient has no pulse or respirations, as it helps maintain blood flow to the brain and other vital organs until an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available or advanced life support arrives.

Question 8

Your 89 year old female patient is in cardiac arrest. Her daughter asks you to "save" her, but the patient's son says that the patient has a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. He does not know where the official DNR paperwork is. You should

Accepted Answer

In emergency situations where a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is not immediately available for verification, healthcare providers should initiate life-saving measures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The priority is to preserve life until the DNR can be verified.

Question 9

Why is it important to let the patient's chest recoil between compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)?

Accepted Answer

Allowing the chest to recoil fully between compressions is crucial because it lets blood flow back into the heart and air to flow into the lungs, which is essential for effective CPR.

Question 10

When delivering CPR to an adult patient, you should perform chest compressions at a rate of how many per minute?

Accepted Answer

The correct rate for chest compressions during CPR for an adult is at least 100 compressions per minute, but not more than 120.

Question 11

For infants, the ratio of chest compressions to rescue breaths is

Accepted Answer

The correct ratio of chest compressions to rescue breaths for infants during CPR is 30:2, as recommended by the American Heart Association.

Question 12

What is the difference between a fully automated external defibrillator and a shock-advisory defibrillator (SAED)?

Accepted Answer

The rescuer is responsible for pushing a button to deliver the shock with an SAED.

Question 13

You are getting ready to apply an automated external defibrillator (AED) to a patient in cardiac arrest when you notice a small lump below the skin on his upper abdomen. His wife confirms that it is a pacemaker. You should

Accepted Answer

When using an AED on a patient with a pacemaker, it's important to avoid placing the pads directly over the pacemaker device. Instead, the pads should be positioned at least 1 inch away from the pacemaker to prevent damage to the device and ensure effective delivery of the shock.

Question 14

When the heart is in ventricular fibrillation,

Accepted Answer

Ventricular fibrillation is characterized by rapid, erratic electrical impulses in the heart, leading to an ineffective heartbeat and the inability of the heart to pump blood, rather than being directly caused by dead tissue, interrupted nerve impulses from the brain, or a blocked coronary artery.

Question 15

When trauma is suspected and you need to open a patient's airway, you should use

Accepted Answer

The modified jaw-thrust maneuver is recommended for opening the airway of a trauma patient because it minimizes movement of the cervical spine, which is crucial if there is a suspected spinal injury. Other methods, like the head tilt-chin lift, are not recommended in trauma cases due to the risk of exacerbating spinal injuries.

Question 16

When performing CPR on an infant, you should check the pulse in the

Accepted Answer

For infants, the brachial artery is the recommended site to check for a pulse when performing CPR, as it is more accessible and reliable in infants compared to other arteries.

Question 17

Before using an automated external defibrillator (AED), you should

Accepted Answer

Before using an AED, it is crucial to ensure that no one is in contact with the patient or the stretcher to prevent accidental shock to bystanders.

Question 18

How can you avoid delivering inappropriate shocks with an automated external defibrillator (AED)?

Accepted Answer

An AED should only be used on unresponsive and pulseless patients to avoid delivering inappropriate shocks.

Question 19

When is it acceptable to stop CPR?

Accepted Answer

It is acceptable to stop CPR if you feel light-headed or are about to pass out, as continuing could endanger your own health and ability to provide effective assistance.

Question 20

When the AED is about to shock, you should shout

Accepted Answer

When an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is about to deliver a shock, it is standard procedure to loudly announce "Stand clear!" This ensures that bystanders and rescuers are not in contact with the patient, as touching the patient during the shock could be dangerous and interfere with the effectiveness of the defibrillation.

Quiz 22: Cardiovascular Disorders