EMR Ch 10

stroke

A brain attack caused by a blood clot or a broken blood vessel in the brain. Strokes can result in trouble speaking, inability to move parts of the body, confusion, or unconsciousness.

abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

A condition in which the layers of the aorta in the abdomen weaken. This causes blood to leak between the layers of the artery, causing it to bulge and sometimes rupture.

hypoglycemia

A condition of low blood sugar that occurs in a person with diabetes who has taken too much insulin or has not eaten enough food.

atherosclerosis

A disease characterized by thickening and destruction of the arterial walls and caused by fatty deposits within them; the arteries lose the ability to dilate and carry blood.

asthma

A disease in which the airway becomes narrowed and inflamed, resulting in episodes of shortness of breath because of air being trapped in the small air sacs of the lungs.

diabetes

A disease in which the body is unable to use glucose normally because of a deficiency or total lack of insulin.

nitroglycerin

A medication used to treat angina pectoris; increases blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart muscle and reduces or eliminates the pain of angina pectoris.

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

A slow process of destruction of the airways, alveoli, and pulmonary blood vessels caused by chronic bronchial obstruction (emphysema).

diabetic coma

A state of unconsciousness that occurs when the body has too much glucose and not enough insulin.

angina pectoris

Chest pain with squeezing or tightness in the chest caused by an inadequate flow of blood to the heart muscle.

bronchitis

Inflammation of the airways in the lungs.

generalized seizures

Seizures characterized by contractions of all the body's muscle groups that may last for 1 to 2 minutes; formerly known as grand mal seizures.

absence seizures

Seizures that are characterized by a brief lapse of attention. The patient may stare and not respond; formerly known as petit mal seizures.

dyspnea

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

cardiac arrest

Sudden cessation of heart function.

acute abdomen

The sudden onset of abdominal pain caused by disease or trauma that irritates the lining of the abdominal cavity and requires immediate medical or surgical treatment.