Which test measures the electrical activity of the heart and can detect arrhythmias and other heart conditions?
- A. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- B. Chest X-ray
- C. MRI
- D. CT scan
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). An ECG measures the electrical activity of the heart, detecting arrhythmias and other heart conditions by recording the heart's electrical impulses. This test is non-invasive and provides valuable information about the heart's function. Chest X-ray (B) primarily shows the heart's size and shape, not electrical activity. MRI (C) and CT scan (D) are imaging tests that provide detailed anatomical images but do not directly measure heart electrical activity.
You may also like to solve these questions
The nurse is giving nitroglycerin sublingually for chest pain. What is the most important instruction to give to the client?
- A. Place the tablet under the tongue and let it dissolve completely.
- B. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
- C. Chew the tablet and then swallow it.
- D. Take one tablet every 5 minutes until pain is relieved.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Place the tablet under the tongue and let it dissolve completely. Nitroglycerin is absorbed quickly through the oral mucosa, providing rapid relief for chest pain. Placing it under the tongue allows for direct absorption into the bloodstream. Swallowing the tablet whole (B) would delay absorption. Chewing the tablet (C) would cause rapid absorption and possibly lead to a drop in blood pressure. Taking one tablet every 5 minutes (D) is not recommended as it can lead to hypotension. Therefore, option A is the most appropriate instruction for the client.
The nurse is administering an ACE inhibitor to a client. What is the most common side effect?
- A. Cough
- B. Dizziness
- C. Hypotension
- D. Hyperkalemia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Cough. ACE inhibitors commonly cause a persistent dry cough due to the accumulation of bradykinin. This side effect occurs in up to 20% of patients. Dizziness (B) and hypotension (C) are potential side effects of ACE inhibitors but not as common as cough. Hyperkalemia (D) can occur with ACE inhibitors but is not the most common side effect.
Which term refers to a condition where the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is blocked, often referred to as a heart attack?
- A. Myocardial infarction
- B. Arrhythmia
- C. Stroke
- D. Aneurysm
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction refers to the condition where the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is blocked, leading to tissue damage or cell death. This is commonly known as a heart attack. It is crucial to understand that arrhythmia (B), stroke (C), and aneurysm (D) are different medical conditions that do not specifically involve the blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle. Arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat, stroke is the interruption of blood supply to the brain, and an aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel. Therefore, the correct term for a condition involving a blocked blood supply to the heart muscle is myocardial infarction.
The nurse is giving the client digoxin for heart failure and recognizes that the drug has what type of effect on the heart?
- A. Negative inotropic, negative chronotropic effect
- B. Positive inotropic, negative chronotropic effect
- C. Negative inotropic, positive chronotropic effect
- D. Positive inotropic, positive chronotropic effect
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Positive inotropic, negative chronotropic effect. Digoxin is a positive inotrope, meaning it increases the force of myocardial contraction, which helps improve cardiac output in heart failure. It has a negative chronotropic effect, meaning it decreases the heart rate by slowing down the electrical conduction in the heart, which can be beneficial in certain heart conditions.
Choice A (Negative inotropic, negative chronotropic effect) is incorrect because digoxin is a positive inotrope, not a negative inotrope. Choice C (Negative inotropic, positive chronotropic effect) is incorrect because digoxin does not have a positive chronotropic effect. Choice D (Positive inotropic, positive chronotropic effect) is incorrect because digoxin has a negative chronotropic effect, not a positive one.
Therefore, the correct choice is B due to the combination of positive inotropic effect and negative chronotropic effect of digoxin on the heart
What is the accumulation of fatty deposits along the walls of arteries, leading to reduced blood flow?
- A. Atherosclerosis
- B. Arteriosclerosis
- C. Aneurysm
- D. Thrombosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Atherosclerosis is the correct answer because it specifically refers to the accumulation of fatty deposits in arteries, causing reduced blood flow. Arteriosclerosis is a general term for thickening and hardening of arteries, not necessarily due to fatty deposits. Aneurysm is a localized, abnormal dilation of a blood vessel, not related to fatty deposits. Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot within a blood vessel, not the accumulation of fatty deposits.