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acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
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death of cardiac tissue due to lack of oxygen
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adrenergic agonist
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a drug that stimulates adrenergic receptors, resulting in sympathetic nervous system stimulation
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anaphylaxis
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systemic and overwhelming immune response to an antigen
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angina
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discomfort in the front of the chest, neck, shoulders, jaw, or arms that is precipitated by physical exertion and is relieved by rest or sublingual nitrates
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anticholinergic
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having the effect of inhibiting the cholinergic receptors, which then inhibits the parasympathetic nervous system
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asystole
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a state of cardiac standstill; complete cessation of electrical activity of the heart
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atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response
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a dysrhythmia that involves rapid electrical stimulation, causing the atria and ventricles to contract rapidly
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calcium channel blocker
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a classification of drugs that prevent calcium from entering cells by binding to long-acting voltage-gated calcium channels in the heart, smooth muscle, and pancreas
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cardiac output
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the product of the heart rate and stroke volume, or the amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat
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cardiogenic shock
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shock caused by cardiac damage (pump failure)
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defibrillation
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administration of electrical shock to a person experiencing a life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmia in an effort to restore normal sinus rhythm
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dysrhythmia
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an irregular heart rhythm
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hypovolemic shock
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decreased tissue perfusion caused by decreased circulating blood volume
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infarction
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cell death due to lack of oxygen
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inotropic agent
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a drug that causes the heart to contract with more force
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ischemia
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deficient supply of blood to tissues, which can cause injury
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nitrate
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a classification of drugs that cause vasodilation of blood vessels by imparting nitric oxide, which relaxes smooth muscles
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opioid agonist
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a drug that stimulates the opioid receptors and decreases pain sensations
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oxygen saturation
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measure of how much hemoglobin is bound to oxygen in the bloodstream
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pulmonary edema
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excessive fluid in the lungs
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pulseless electrical activity
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a life-threatening dysrhythmia in which the electrical system conducts impulses but the cardiac myocytes do not respond
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pulseless ventricular tachycardia
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a life-threatening dysrhythmia in which the ventricles contract so rapidly that a pulse cannot be detected
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shock
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decreased tissue perfusion to the point of hypoxia, which causes cells to undergo anaerobic metabolism; if not reversed, will lead to cell and tissue death
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supraventricular tachycardia
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rapid heart rate that originates above the ventricles
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symptomatic bradycardia
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heart rate less than 60 beats/min that causes the individual to have symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
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systemic vascular resistance
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resistance to blood flow by the blood vessels
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ventricular fibrillation
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a life-threatening dysrhythmia originating in the ventricles in which the ventricles are not coordinated in their contraction, leading to minimal cardiac output
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ventricular tachycardia
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a dysrhythmia that originates from the ventricles and causes them to contract rapidly