Common Medical Conditions

Question 1

atherosclerosis

Answer 1

condition in which plaque builds up on the walls of the blood vessels; worsened by a diet high in cholesterol

Question 2

coronary artery disease (CAD)

Answer 2

condition caused by atherosclerosis that reduces blood flow through the coronary arteries (and thus oxygen delivery) to the heart muscle

Question 3

acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

Answer 3

term used to describe sudden reduced blood flow to one or more coronary arteries that can result in cardiac muscle death if left untreated

Question 4

angina

Answer 4

chest pain caused by an inadequate blood supply to the heart muscle

Question 5

unstable angina

Answer 5

condition in which blood flow and oxygen in one or more of the coronary arteries is partially blocked causing chest pain

Question 6

myocardial infarction (MI)

Answer 6

condition in which blood flow and oxygen in one or more of the coronary arteries is suddenly completely blocked, this results in muscle death (heart attack)

Question 7

ST elevation myocardial infarction (stemi)

Answer 7

sudden blockage of coronary artery with EKG findings significant for ST segment elevation

Question 8

Non-stemi

Answer 8

sudden blockage of coronary artery without EKG findings significant for ST segment elevation

Question 9

cardiac dysrhythmia

Answer 9

abnormality in the physiological rate or rhythm of the heart

Question 10

supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)

Answer 10

abnormal heart rhythm arising from aberrant electrical activity in the heart; originates at or above the AV node

Question 11

atrial fibrillation (a-fib)

Answer 11

irregular and often very fast heart rate originating from abnormal conduction in the artira

Question 12

ventricular tachycardia

Answer 12

abnormal heart rhythm that arises from improper electrical conduction in the ventricles

Question 13

congestive heart failure (chf)

Answer 13

condition in which the heart cannot pump blood well enough to meet the body’s needs, resulting in build-up of fluid in the extremities and/or lungs

Question 14

hypertension (htn)

Answer 14

high blood pressure

Question 15

hyperlipidemia

Answer 15

high lipid levels

Question 16

hypercholesterolemia

Answer 16

high cholesterol levels

Question 17

upper respiratory infection (uri)

Answer 17

infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by bacteria or viruses, known as the common cold

Question 18

influenza

Answer 18

infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by influenza viruses, known as a flu

Question 19

bronchitis

Answer 19

inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes

Question 20

pneumonia

Answer 20

inflammation/infection of one or both lungs

Question 21

pleural effusion

Answer 21

excess fluid that accumulates in the pleural cavity and can impair breathing by limiting the expansion of the lungs

Question 22

empyema

Answer 22

presence of pus in the body cavity

Question 23

pneumothorax (ptx)

Answer 23

abnormal collection of air in the pleural space which can cause all or part of the lung to collapse

Question 24

hemothorax (htx)

Answer 24

abnormal accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity

Question 25

asthma

Answer 25

chronic inflammatory lung disease in which airways become inflamed, resulting in excess mucous production and airway narrowing

Question 26

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd)

Answer 26

chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow in the lungs and is not fully reversible; this is often associated with years of smoking

Question 27

pulmonary embolism (pe)

Answer 27

blood clot in one or more of the pulmonary arteries

Question 28

deep venous thrombosis (dvt)

Answer 28

a blood clot in the deep venous system of the arms or legs which can break off and cause a PE (not a respiratory system disease)

Question 29

appendicitis

Answer 29

inflammation of appendix; generally caused by an infection

Question 30

gastritis

Answer 30

inflammation of lining of the stomach

Question 31

gastroesophageal reflux disease (gerd)

Answer 31

acid reflux, aka heartburn

Question 32

gastroenteritis

Answer 32

inflammation/infection of the stomach and intestines which causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

Question 33

biliary colic

Answer 33

pain in the gallbladder caused by gallstones obstructing the bile flow

Question 34

cholecystitis

Answer 34

inflammation/infection of the gallbladder

Question 35

cholelithiasis

Answer 35

presence of stones in the gallbladder

Question 36

choledocholithiasis

Answer 36

gallstones that become stuck in the gallbladder

Question 37

pancreatitis

Answer 37

inflammation of the pancreas

Question 38

hepatitis

Answer 38

inflammation of the liver

Question 39

cirrhosis

Answer 39

liver disease; chronic degenerative disease in which normal liver cells are damaged and replaced by scar tissue

Question 40

ascites

Answer 40

fluid in the peritoneal cavity, most often caused by liver cirrhosis or tumors

Question 41

small bowel obstruction (sbo)

Answer 41

blockage in the intestinal tract

Question 42

diverticulosis

Answer 42

finger-like projections in the large intestine called diverticuli

Question 43

diverticulitis

Answer 43

inflammation/infection of the diverticuli requiring antibiotic treatment

Question 44

gastrointestinal bleed (gi bleed)

Answer 44

bleeding in the upper or lower GI tract

Question 45

hemorrhoids

Answer 45

swollen veins in the lower rectum

Question 46

cerebrovascular accident (cva)

Answer 46

a stroke- two types exist, hemorrhagic and ischemic

Question 47

ischemic cva

Answer 47

a stroke caused by a sudden blockage of a blood vessel in the brain

Question 48

hemorrhagic cva

Answer 48

stroke caused by sudden bleeding in the brain

Question 49

subarachnoid hemorrhage (sah)

Answer 49

bleeding within the subarachnoid space, an area between brain and thin tissues that cover the brain; usually caused by a ruptured brain aneurysm or AVM

Question 50

transient ischemic attack (tia)

Answer 50

stroke-like symptoms that completely resolve in less than 24 hours

Question 51

bell's palsy

Answer 51

paralysis of the facial nerve (cranial nerve 7), causing muscular weakness to one side of the face, can be confused with a stroke

Question 52

seizure

Answer 52

uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain that may cause physical convulsions

Question 53

pseudoseizure

Answer 53

psychogenic nonepileptic seizure that can be either organic or psychogenic (fake seizures for attention)

Question 54

meningitis

Answer 54

inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord; most often caused by a bacterial or viral infection

Question 55

encephalitis

Answer 55

inflammation of brain tissue, usually caused by infection