Term
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Definition
| the study of the problems of all aspects of aging |
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Term
| What organ systems are most affected by the aging process |
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Definition
| respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, nervous and musculoskeletal |
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Term
| Why does pulmonary capacity reduce with age? |
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Definition
| muscles shrink, muscles and ligaments calcify decreasing thoracic compliance |
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Term
| Why are pulmonary diseases more common in the elderly |
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Definition
| loss of cilia in the airways and diminished cough reflex and impaired gag reflex |
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Term
| How does age affect the cardiovascular system |
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Definition
| diminished ability to raise the heart rate, decrease in compliance of the ventricle, prolonged duration of contraction and decreased responsiveness to catecholamine stimulation |
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Term
| What are the most common dysrhythmias in the elderly |
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Definition
| a-fib, sick sinus syndrome, bradycardia and heart blocks |
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Term
| What makes an elderly patient more susceptible to problems with medications |
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Definition
| decreasing kidney and liver function, loss of muscle mass and body water |
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Term
| Why does motor or position sense and delays in reaction time and motor responses get affected with age |
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Definition
| because the velocity of nerve conduction decreases |
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Term
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Definition
| its a result of osteoporosis resulting in a humpback posture |
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Term
| What is a common cause of death in the elderly |
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Definition
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Term
| What are signs and symptoms of cancer |
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Definition
| change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, malaise, fatigue, unusual weight loss |
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Term
| Why can older patients suffer from silent MI'S |
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Definition
| because pain may be diminished or absent |
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Term
| what disease is often fatal in frail adults |
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Definition
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Term
| what is the most reliable indicators of bacterial pneumonia in the prehospital setting |
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Definition
| tachycardia and tachypnea |
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Term
| When do COPD exacerbations usually happen in the elderly |
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Definition
| following an acute respiratory infection |
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Term
| what is the most common formation site of PE |
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Definition
| forms in the veins of the legs |
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Term
| what is the hallmark sign for PE |
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Definition
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Term
| A lack of chest pain with MI's is common in this age group of people |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the most common complaint in geriatric patients with MI's |
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Definition
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Term
| what is the first symptom of left-sided heart failure |
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Definition
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Term
|
Definition
| ventricular output cannot meet the metabolic demands of the body |
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Term
| What is the most common cause of dysrhythmias in geriatric patients |
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Definition
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Term
| What is a common cause of abdominal and thoracic aneurysm |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the most common type of aneurysm |
|
Definition
| acute dissecting aortic aneurysm |
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Term
| what BP is considered hypertensive |
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Definition
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Term
| Because of HTN, geriatric patients may complain of this |
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Definition
| headache, forgetfulness, and general malaise |
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Term
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Definition
extreme anxiety, cyanosis, wheezing and abnormal breath sounds
Extreme cases include paradoxical breathing, JVD, and dysrhythmias |
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Term
|
Definition
| Left ventricular failure with sudden tachypnea |
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Term
| If the patient is having a stroke, what is the window for fibrolynic therapy |
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Definition
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Term
| What makes a hospital a stroke center |
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Definition
| they can provide treatment within 1 hr after arrival at the the ED |
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Term
| This is an abrupt disorientation to time and place and usually includes illusions and hallucinations |
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Definition
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Term
|
Definition
| organic brain dysfunction |
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Term
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Definition
| swelling and irritation of the brain most commonly caused by infections |
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Term
| This is a slow progressive loss of awareness of time and place |
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Definition
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Term
|
Definition
| Making up stories to fill memory gaps |
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Term
| What is meant by a second childhood |
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Definition
| It is the last stage in dementia in which the patient will need full time care like a child |
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Term
| What is the key difference between delirium and dementia |
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Definition
| delirium is sudden onset and dementia is slow onset |
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Term
| This is a condition in which nerve cells in the cerebral cortex dies and the brain substance shrinks |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the most common form of dementia |
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Definition
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Term
| This disease is caused by degeneration of damaged nerve cells in the basal ganglia |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the S&S of Parkinsons disease |
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Definition
| Muscle tremor (classic sign), stiffness and weakness |
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Term
| What are the two most common endocrine disorders with the elderly |
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Definition
| diabetes and thyroid disease |
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Term
| This is a serious type II diabetic condition with a high mortality rate. The paramedic often finds the pt comatose |
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Definition
| HHNK- Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic coma |
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Term
| What are sever complications from thyroid disease |
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Definition
| thyroid storm and myxedema coma |
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Term
| What is the most common complaint for a bowel obstruction |
|
Definition
| constipation, abdominal cramping and an inability to pass gas, vomiting of fecal matter |
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Term
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Definition
| it is the ability to control bladder or bowel function |
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Term
| Is incontinence normal or abnormal with age |
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Definition
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Term
| Geriatric patient usually experiences bowl incontinence because of this medical condition |
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Definition
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Term
| What is a decubitus ulcer |
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Definition
| the often develop on the skin of patients who are bedridden or immobile |
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|
Term
| where are common sites for ulcers |
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Definition
| lower legs, back, and buttocks and over bony areas |
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Term
| What do pressure ulcers result from |
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Definition
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