Term
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Definition
| the secondary muscles of respiration. They include the neck muscles (sternocleidomastoids), the chest pectoralis major muscles, and the abdominal muscles. |
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Definition
| to listen to sounds within an organ with a stethoscope. |
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Definition
| a method of assessing the level of consciousness by determining whether the patient is awake and alert, responsive to verbal stimuli or pain, or unresponsive; used principally early in the assessment process. |
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Definition
| the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of the arteries. |
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Definition
| a slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/min. |
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Definition
| an indication of air movement in the lungs, usually assessed with the stethoscope. |
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Term
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Definition
| test that evaluates distal circulatory system function by squeezing (blanching) blood from an area such as a nail bed and watching the speed of its return after releasing the pressure. |
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Term
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Definition
| the use of a capnometer, a device that measures the amount of expired carbon dioxide. |
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Term
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Definition
| carbon dioxide is a component of air and typically makes up 0.3% of air at sea level. It is also waste product exhaled during expiration by the respiratory system. |
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Term
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Definition
| the reason a patient called for help; also, the patient's response to questions such as "What's wrong?" or "What happened?" |
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Term
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Definition
| to form a clot to plug an opening in an injured blood vessel and stop bleeding. |
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Term
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Definition
| capnometer or end-tidal corbon dioxide detectors are devices that use a chemical reaction to detect the amount of carbon dioxide present in expired gases by changing colors (qualitative measurement rather than quantitative). |
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Term
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Definition
| the delicate membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the eye. |
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Term
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Definition
| a grating or grinding sensaion caused by fractured bone ends or joints rubbing together; also air bubbles under the skin that produce a cracking sound or crinkly feeling. |
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Term
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Definition
| a bluish gray skin color that is caused by reduced level of oxygen in the blood. |
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Term
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Definition
| a mnemonic for assessment in which each area of the body is evaluated for Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures/ penetrations, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, Swelling. |
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Term
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Definition
| characterized by profuse sweating. |
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Term
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Definition
| the pressure that remains in the arteries during the relaxing phase of the heart's cycle(diastole) when the left ventricle is at rest. |
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Term
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Definition
| the amount of carbon dioxide present in each exhaled breath. |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of physical assessment that is typically performed on patients who have sustained non-significant mechanisms of injury or on responsive medical patients. This type of examination is based on the chief complaint and focuses on one body system or part. |
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Term
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Definition
| damage to the tissues as the result of exposure to cold; frozen or partially frozen body parts are frostbitten. |
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Term
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Definition
| a systematic head to toe examination that is performed during the secondary assessment on a patient who has sustained a significant mechanism of injury, is unconscious, or is in critical condition. |
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Term
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Definition
| the overall initial impression that determines the priority for patient care; based on the patient's surroundings, the mechanism of injury, signs and symptoms, and the chief complaint. |
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Term
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Definition
| the time from injury to definitive care, during which treatment of shock and traumatic injuries should occur because survival potential is best. |
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Term
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Definition
| Involuntary muscle contractions (spasms) of the abdominal wall in an effort to protect an inflamed abdomen; a sign of peritonitis. |
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Term
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Definition
| a step withinthe patient assessment process that provides detail about the patient's chief complaint and an account of the patient's signs and symptoms. |
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Term
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Definition
| blood pressure that is higher than the normal range. |
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Term
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Definition
| blood pressure that is lower than the normal range. |
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Term
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Definition
| a condition in which the internal body temperature falls below 95 degrees F after exposure to a cold environment. |
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Term
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Definition
| a system implemented to manage disasters and mass-and multi-casualty incidents in which section chiefs, including finance, logistics, operations, and planning, report to the incident commander. Also referred to the incident management system. |
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Term
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Definition
| yellow skin or sclera that is caused by liver disease or dysfunction. |
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Term
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Definition
| breathing that requires visibly increased effort; characterized by grunting, stridor, and use of accessory muscles. |
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Term
| mechanism of injury (MOI) |
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Definition
| the way in which traumatic injuries occur; the forces that act on the body to cause damage. |
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Term
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Definition
| flaring out of the nostrils, indicating that there is an airway obstruction. |
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Term
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Definition
| the general type of illness a patient is experiencing. |
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Term
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Definition
an abbreviation for key terms used in evaluating a patient's pain:
Onset
Provocation or Palliation
Quality
Region/radiation
Severity
Timing of pain |
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Term
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Definition
the mental status of a patient as measured by memory of
person (name)
place (current location)
time (approx date)
event (what happened) |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| the motion of the chest wall section that is detached in a flail chest; the motion is exactly the opposite of noraml motion during breathing (ie, in during inhalation, out during exhalation) |
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Term
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Definition
| circulation of blood within an organ or tissue. |
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Term
| personal protective equipment (PPE) |
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Definition
| clothing or specialized equipment that provides protection to the wearer. |
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Term
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Definition
| circulation of blood within an organ or tissue. |
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Term
| personal protective equipment (PPE) |
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Definition
| clothing or specialized equipment that provides protection to the wearer. |
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Term
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Definition
| negative findings that warrant no care or intervention. |
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Term
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Definition
| a step within the patient assessment process that identifies and initiates treatment of immediate and potential life threats. |
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Term
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Definition
| the pressure wave that occurs as each heartbeat causes a surge in the blood circulating through the arteries. |
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Term
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Definition
| an assessment tool that measures oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the capillary beds. |
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Term
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Definition
| a cracking, rattling breath sound that signals fluid in the air spaces of the lungs; also called crackles. |
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Term
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Definition
| a step within patient assessment process that is performed at regular intervals during the assessment process. Its purpose is to identify and treat changes in a patient's condition. A patient in unstable condition should be assessed every 5 minutes, whereas a patient in stable condition should be reassessed every 15 minutes. |
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Term
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Definition
the way in which a patient responds to external stimuli, including
Verbal stimuli (sound)
Tactile stimuli (touch)
Painful stimuli |
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Term
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Definition
| movements in which the skin pulls in around the ribs during inspiration. |
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Term
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Definition
| coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the upper airways. |
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Term
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Definition
| a brief history of a patient's condition to determine signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent past history, last oral intake, and events leading to injury or illness. |
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Term
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Definition
| a step within the patient assessment process that involves a quick assessment of the scene and the surroundings to provide information about scene safety and the mechanism of injury or nature of illness before you enter and begin patient care. |
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Term
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Definition
| virus caused by human herpeviruses 1 and 2, characterized by small blisters whose location depends on the type of virus. Type 2 results in blisters on genital area,while type 1 in blisters in non-genital areas. |
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Term
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Definition
| awareness that unseen life-threatening injuries or illness may exist. |
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Term
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Definition
| life threats that require EMS attention because of illness or conditions not caused by an outside force. |
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Term
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Definition
| an inflammation of the meningeal coverings of the brain and spinal cord; it is usually caused by a virus or a bacterium. |
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Term
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Definition
| the general type of illness a patient is experiencing. |
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Term
| SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) |
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Definition
| potentially life-threatening viral infection that usually starts with flulike symptoms. |
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Term
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Definition
| injuries that are the result of physical forces applied to the body. |
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Term
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Definition
| a chronic bacterial disease, caused by MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS, that usually affects the lungs but can also affect other organs such as the brain and kidneys. |
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Term
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Definition
| the strength or ability of a pathogen to produce disease. |
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Term
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Definition
| a term for a group of disorders characterized by poorly controlled body movement. |
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Term
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Definition
| a surgical procedure to establish an opening between the colon and the surface of the body. |
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Term
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Definition
| insufficient development of the brain, resulting in some level of dysfunction or impairment. |
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Term
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Definition
| A gentic chromosomal defect that can occur during fetal development and that results in mental retardation as well as certain physical chracteristics, such as round head with flat occiput and slanted wide-set eyes. |
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Term
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Definition
| a surgical procedure to create an opening between the small intestine and the surface of the body. |
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Term
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Definition
| a condition in which a person has an excessive amount of body fat. |
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Term
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Definition
| a permanent lack of hearing caused by a lesion or damage of the inner ear. |
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Term
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Definition
| tubes that drain fluid from the brain to other part of the body outside of the brain, such as the abdomen; lowers pressure in the brain. |
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Term
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Definition
| a development defect in which a portion of the spinal cord or meninges may protrude outside of the vertbrae and possibily even outside of the body, usually at the lower third of the spine in the lumber area. |
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Term
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Definition
| plastic tube placed within the traceostomy site (stoma). |
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Term
| abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) |
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Definition
| a condition in which the walls of the aorta in the abdomen weaken and blood leaks into the layers of the vessel, causing it to bulge. |
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Term
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Definition
| written documentation that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient should the patient become unable to make decisions; also called living wills. |
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Term
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Definition
| an enlargement of a part of an artery, resulting from weakening of the arterial wall. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| clouding of the lens of the eye or its surrounding transparent membranes. |
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Term
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Definition
| also known as bedsores. These are sores caused by the pressure of the skin against a surface for long periods. These sores can range from pink discoloration of the skin to a deep wound that may invade into bone or organs. |
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Term
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Definition
| the formation of a blood clot within the larger veins of an extremity, typically following a period of prolonged immobilization. |
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Term
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Definition
| a more or less sudden change in mental status marked by the inability to focus, think logically, and maintain attention. |
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Term
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Definition
| the slow onset of progressive disorientation, shortened attention span, and loss of cognitive function. |
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Term
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Definition
| shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. |
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Term
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Definition
| any action on the part of an older person's family member, caregiver, or other associated person that takes advantage of the older person's person, property, or emotional state; also called granny beating and parent battering. |
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Term
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Definition
| the assessment and treatment of disease in someone who is 65 years or older. |
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Term
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Definition
| a visual bulging of the jugular veins in the neck that can be caused by fluid overload, pressure in the chest, cardiac tamponade, or tension pneumothorax. |
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Term
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Definition
| a forward curling of the back caused by an abnormal increase in the curvature of the spine. |
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Definition
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