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EMT Chapter 20: Cardiac Emergencies
Questions and Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is the name for chest pain due to reduced oxygen to the heart that resolves with rest?✔✔ Angina pectoris
What is one common early sign of poor cardiac output?✔✔ Weak or absent radial pulses
What should you do if a patient with chest pain becomes unconscious and pulseless?✔✔ Begin CPR and apply the AED
What is one major difference between angina and a heart attack?✔✔ Angina pain usually stops with rest; heart attack pain does not
What condition is caused by the buildup of fluid in the lungs due to heart failure?✔✔ Pulmonary edema
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What is the main goal of prehospital cardiac emergency care?✔✔ Restore circulation and oxygenation as quickly as possible
What causes shortness of breath in left-sided heart failure?✔✔ Fluid backs up into the lungs
What is the first drug you should consider assisting with for a cardiac chest pain patient?✔✔ Nitroglycerin
What is the name of the condition where the heart muscle dies due to lack of oxygen?✔✔ Myocardial infarction
What does the acronym AED stand for?✔✔ Automated External Defibrillator
What medication is commonly given to reduce blood clotting during chest pain?✔✔ Aspirin
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What position should a conscious cardiac patient with difficulty breathing be placed in?✔✔ Semi-Fowler’s position
What heart rhythm does an AED deliver a shock for?✔✔ Ventricular fibrillation
What is the goal of defibrillation during cardiac arrest?✔✔ To stop chaotic electrical activity and allow normal rhythm to return
What does chest pain that improves with rest most likely indicate?✔✔ Stable angina
What is a sign of poor perfusion in a cardiac emergency?✔✔ Pale, cool, and clammy skin
What condition presents with shortness of breath, crackles in the lungs, and pink frothy sputum?✔✔ Pulmonary edema
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