Sudden Illness Study Guide Answer Key

Sudden Illness 1. What are the common, general signs and symptoms of a sudden illness? P. 246 Person feels ill, dizzy, confused and weak Skin color changes (flushed, pale or ashen), sweating Breathing changes Nausea or vomiting 2. What are the general steps in caring for a sudden illness? Call 911 for unexplained sudden illness. Help the victim rest and avoid becoming chilled or overheated Reassure the victim Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink Watch for changes and be prepared to give basic life support (BLS) if needed 3. What happens when a heart attack occurs? Sudden reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, often leads to cardiac arrest. 4. What are the signs and symptoms of a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction)? (refer to power-point) Chest pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain (lasts longer than 10 minutes) Radiating pain in other areas of the upper body Shortness of breath Light-headedness, fainting, sweating, nausea, and perhaps a feeling of indigestion 5. If anyone has chest pain, whether it lasts more or less than 10 minutes, you should call 911. 6. List the actions you should take in the event of a heart attack. Call 911, get victim to rest in most comfortable position, loosen constricting clothing, calm the victim, monitor ABCs, give CPR if necessary, give one aspirin if not allergic, check for other medications. 7. Explain what angina is and what brings it on. Chest pain caused by heart disease that usually happens after intense activity or exertion, or after stress, or exposure to extreme heat or cold. 8. What usually relieves angina? A few minutes of rest. 9. What position should the person be in to take the nitroglycerine and why? Sitting or lying down, because it reduces blood pressure and reduces work for the heart (dilates arteries which increases heart flow. 10. Angina pain usually lasts less than 10 minutes. 11. A stroke is basically a brain attack, that is, the same thing happens in the brain as happens in the heart when a heart attack occurs. 12. What causes a stroke to occur? Atherosclerosis—a blood clot, either formed in a brain artery or trapped there, obstructs blood flow to that part of the brain, or when an artery in the brain ruptures, or other factors that impede blood flow. 13. What are Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA’S)? Temporary interruption to blood flow in an artery in the brain (also called a mini stroke) 14. List the stroke risk factors. Older than 50 years Use of birth control pills and older than 30 Overweight Hypertension High cholesterol Diabetes Heart Disease Sickle Cell Disease Substance Abuse (especially crack cocaine) Family history 15. List the signs and symptoms of a stroke. Sudden weakness or numbness of face, arm, leg, on one side of the body (strokes are usually unilateral) Loss of speech, difficulty speaking, difficulty understanding speech. Blurred or decreased vision on one side (Deviation of PEARL) Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness, loss of balance Sudden severe headache Nausea, vomiting 16. List what you should do for the stroke victim and identify the position you should place them if they are conscious or unresponsive but breathing. Call 911, calm the victim. Have the victim lie down on the back with head and shoulders slightly raised (stroke position). If unresponsive, put victim into recovery position, with the affected side down to better maintain the airway, and chin extended. Do not give liquids or foods. 17. Look at the information and picture on p. 251 concerning strokes. 18. What is asthma and what seems to trigger an asthma attack? A chronic disease where during an attack, the airway becomes narrow and the person has difficulty breathing. Asthma is triggered by respiratory tract infections, extreme temperatures (esp cold), strong odors, perfumes, dust, fumes, smoke, allergens, air pollution, certain drugs (beta blockers and aspirin), exercise, and emotional distress. 19. List signs of an asthma attack. Coughing, wheezing or whistling sound, chest tightness, shortness of breath, flared nostrils, cyanosis, difficulty speaking, blue lips/ fingertips 20. If someone is having an asthma attack, what should you do? Put victim in upright position, leaning slightly forward. Do “pursed lip breathing”, if they have inhaler then use that. Monitor ABCs if necessary. Determine cause of attack and remove victim from causative environment. 21. Explain what pursed lip breathing is? Barely open lips and force air out. 22. COPD refers to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. List the 2 main diseases associated with COPD. Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema. 23. How can you help a person having trouble with COPD? If they are in major distress, you may need to call 911. Put them in sitting position, encourage fluid intake, if they have medication then help administer. 24. What is hyperventilation and what usually causes it? Shortness of breath brought on by emotional distress and characterized by fast breathing. 25. Explain what to do if someone hyperventilates. (refer to power-point) Encourage slow breathing (Inhale through nose and hold for several seconds, exhale slowly through pursed lips) Calm and reassure victim. Do not place paper bag over head. 26. What usually happens (in reference to brain blood flow) when someone faints? Brain flow has been interrupted. 27. What should you do for a fainting victim? Prevent from falling, have victim lie down on back, elevate feet 8-12 inches, loosen tight clothing, after recovery give fluid with sugar. 28. Many times a fainting victim does not need to be seen by medical personnel. 29. Seizures (same as convulsions) result from: Abnormal stimulation of brain cells (brain disturbance) 30. List conditions that could lead to seizures. (refer to power-point) Epilepsy, Heatstroke, poisoning, electric shock, hypoglycemia, high fever in children, brain injury, tumor, stroke, alcohol withdrawal, drug abuse/overdose 31. List the 4 major classifications of seizures. Generalized Tonic Clonic Seizures Absence Seizures Complex Partial Seizures Febrile Seizures 32. Explain what happens when one has a Generalized Tonic Clonic Seizures (grand mal seizure.) They go stiff, then have a jerking motion. 33. What should you do and should not do for someone having a Generalized Tonic Clonic Seizures (grand mal seizure.) Cushion head, remove items that victim may bump into, loosen tight neckwear, place on left side, find medical-alert tag, as seizure ends, offer help. 34. Definitely call 911 if a seizure last longer than 5 minutes. 35. What is Status Epilepticus? Two or more seizures with no period of consciousness. Call 911, it’s an emergency. 36. Explain, briefly, what happens when one has diabetes. Glucose is unable to enter cells, and body cannot produce insulin or use insulin properly 37. List the 3 types of diabetes and specifics related to each one. (refer to powerpoint) Type I: Insulin-dependent. Congenital with juvenile onset. Type II: Adultonset, results from obesity and inactivity. Gestational Onset: ?? 38. Define hypoglycemia: Low levels of blood sugar. 39. Identify signs of hypoglycemia. (refer to power-point) Sudden onset, sudden hunger, trembling/shaking, anger, bad temper, staggering, poor coordination, pale, confusion, disorientation, altered mental status, sweating, eventual stupor or unconsciousness or seizure. 40. Define hyperglycemia. Too much blood sugar, pancreas fails to produce insulin to lower sugar levels. 41. Why does blood sugar, in the diabetic, remain too high? Pancreas fails to produce insulin to lower sugar levels. 42. List signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia. (refer to power-point) Gradual onset, drowsiness, extreme thirst/dry mouth, frequent urination, flushed skin, vomiting/nausea, fruity breath, heavy breathing, eventual stupor or unconsciousness. 43. If a diabetic has low or high blood sugar levels, but you do not know which is 44. If one is suffering from abdominal pain/distress, what are some questions you happening, what do you do for the person? GIVE SUGAR (all caps in PP) need to ask the person? (refer to power-point) Cramping pain? Constant pain? (indicates organ inflammation) Nausea? Poor appetite? Fever? Diarrhea or vomiting? Is there a virus going around? Is there a chance of pregnancy? Abdomen rigid to touch? 45. What are some of the do’s and do not’s related to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea? Do: Watch for dehydration, wait for nausea to pass before giving liquids and foods, give clear fluids, hot water bottle, warm bath, lay on left side with knees bent, suppository by prescription, crackers and toast, and avoid milk and meats for 48 hours. Drink plenty of fluids. 46. When should you seek medical attention for abdominal distress? (refer to powerpoint) If there is constant pain, inability ot drink for more than 24 hours, blood or brown grainy matter in vomit, vomiting following a head injury, black or bloody stools, rigid, swollen, distended stomach, pain when abdomen is pressed then released.