AC3- EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Altitude-related illness:
increased altitude = decreased _____ pressure - Answers - barometric
what is the pathological response that occurs when a person reaches higher elevation
(1500 meters +) - Answers - hypoxia
what types of individuals are more at risk to obtain altitude-related illness (HAD) -
Answers - obestiy or chornic illness (especially cardiovascular issues); dehydration and
use of CNS depressants (alcohol and drugs)
what is NOT a factor in the likelihood of a person obtaining altitude-related illness? -
Answers - age is NOT a factor
hypoxia induces RBC production by stimulating the release of erythropoietin- the result
is an increased in RBCs and hemoglobin concentration; overtime ___ can devlelop in
people who are in high altitudes
AKA: blood thickens which results in ____ (too much hemoglobin) - Answers -
polycythemia
___ may occur with HACE or HAPE and the underlying patho is hypoxia - Answers -
acute mountain sickness (AMS)
this medication, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor is common prescribed to prevent or treat
AMS- it rids the body of excess fluid and induces metabolic acidosis; this helps patient
acclimate faster to a high altitude; for best results, the drug should be taken 24 hours
before ascent and be continued for the first 2 days of the trip - Answers - oral
acetazolamide (diamox)
what must the patient be assessed for PRIOR to the administration of oral
acetazolamide (diamox)? - Answers - sulfa allergies
if AMS prgressses to ___ (the extreme form of AMS), the patient cannot perform ADLs
and has extreme apathy - Answers - HACE
a key sign of HACE is the development of ___- which is defective muscular
coordination.
the patient also experiences a change in mental status with confusion and impaired
judgement. - Answers - ataxia
, ___ often appears in conjunction with HACE but may occur during the progression of
AMS within the first 2-4 days of a rapid ascent to high altitude, commonly on the second
night - Answers - HAPE
what is the most common cause of death associated with high altitude? - Answers -
HAPE
signs and symptoms of ____ : persistent dry cough and cyanosis of the lips and nail
beds, tachycardia and tachypnea occurring at rest, crackles in one or both lungs -
Answers - HAPE
what is a LATE symptom of HAPE? - Answers - pink, frothy sputum
what will ABGs look like in a patient with HAPE? - Answers - respiratory alkalosis and
hypoxemia (decreased oxygen)
what is the most important intervention to manage serious altitude-related illnesses? -
Answers - move to a lower altitude
what medication is used to treat moderate-severe AMS? it reduces cerebral edema by
acting as an anti-inflammatory in the CNS - Answers - dexamethasone
for the treatment of ___, early recognition of ataxia or a change in LOC should prompt a
rapid descent by rescuers or companions to a lower altitude - Answers - HACE
In HACE, if the patient is being descended by recuers or companions and mental status
change is severekly impaired, how should medications be adminstered? - Answers -
parenterally
phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as ___ and ___ have been shown to prevent the
devolvement of HAPE because of the pulmonary vasodilation effects - Answers -
Viagra; sildenafil or tadalafil
if HAPE occurs and the patient is not able to descend due to weather conditions or
other factors, what should take place? - Answers - o2 administration ASAP, keep patient
warm and understand that drugs are NOT substitutes for decent and O2
in the event of drowning, no matter the type of water, what will occur? - Answers -
pulmonary edema
what are the two most important factors that determine outcomes for victims of
drowning? - Answers - duration of submersion and severity of hypoxia
very __ water seems to have a protective effect - Answers - cold
Altitude-related illness:
increased altitude = decreased _____ pressure - Answers - barometric
what is the pathological response that occurs when a person reaches higher elevation
(1500 meters +) - Answers - hypoxia
what types of individuals are more at risk to obtain altitude-related illness (HAD) -
Answers - obestiy or chornic illness (especially cardiovascular issues); dehydration and
use of CNS depressants (alcohol and drugs)
what is NOT a factor in the likelihood of a person obtaining altitude-related illness? -
Answers - age is NOT a factor
hypoxia induces RBC production by stimulating the release of erythropoietin- the result
is an increased in RBCs and hemoglobin concentration; overtime ___ can devlelop in
people who are in high altitudes
AKA: blood thickens which results in ____ (too much hemoglobin) - Answers -
polycythemia
___ may occur with HACE or HAPE and the underlying patho is hypoxia - Answers -
acute mountain sickness (AMS)
this medication, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor is common prescribed to prevent or treat
AMS- it rids the body of excess fluid and induces metabolic acidosis; this helps patient
acclimate faster to a high altitude; for best results, the drug should be taken 24 hours
before ascent and be continued for the first 2 days of the trip - Answers - oral
acetazolamide (diamox)
what must the patient be assessed for PRIOR to the administration of oral
acetazolamide (diamox)? - Answers - sulfa allergies
if AMS prgressses to ___ (the extreme form of AMS), the patient cannot perform ADLs
and has extreme apathy - Answers - HACE
a key sign of HACE is the development of ___- which is defective muscular
coordination.
the patient also experiences a change in mental status with confusion and impaired
judgement. - Answers - ataxia
, ___ often appears in conjunction with HACE but may occur during the progression of
AMS within the first 2-4 days of a rapid ascent to high altitude, commonly on the second
night - Answers - HAPE
what is the most common cause of death associated with high altitude? - Answers -
HAPE
signs and symptoms of ____ : persistent dry cough and cyanosis of the lips and nail
beds, tachycardia and tachypnea occurring at rest, crackles in one or both lungs -
Answers - HAPE
what is a LATE symptom of HAPE? - Answers - pink, frothy sputum
what will ABGs look like in a patient with HAPE? - Answers - respiratory alkalosis and
hypoxemia (decreased oxygen)
what is the most important intervention to manage serious altitude-related illnesses? -
Answers - move to a lower altitude
what medication is used to treat moderate-severe AMS? it reduces cerebral edema by
acting as an anti-inflammatory in the CNS - Answers - dexamethasone
for the treatment of ___, early recognition of ataxia or a change in LOC should prompt a
rapid descent by rescuers or companions to a lower altitude - Answers - HACE
In HACE, if the patient is being descended by recuers or companions and mental status
change is severekly impaired, how should medications be adminstered? - Answers -
parenterally
phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as ___ and ___ have been shown to prevent the
devolvement of HAPE because of the pulmonary vasodilation effects - Answers -
Viagra; sildenafil or tadalafil
if HAPE occurs and the patient is not able to descend due to weather conditions or
other factors, what should take place? - Answers - o2 administration ASAP, keep patient
warm and understand that drugs are NOT substitutes for decent and O2
in the event of drowning, no matter the type of water, what will occur? - Answers -
pulmonary edema
what are the two most important factors that determine outcomes for victims of
drowning? - Answers - duration of submersion and severity of hypoxia
very __ water seems to have a protective effect - Answers - cold
