After being dispatched for a male patient experiencing dyspnea, you arrive to find the confused 67-year-old man sitting upright at his kitchen table in severe respiratory distress. You also note remarkable swelling to his lower legs and feet. He has an open airway, but cannot speak more than two to three words without attempting to breathe. His breathing is extremely labored, with inspiratory crackles heard upon auscultation. His skin is cool, diaphoretic, and dusky in color. A family member at the scene reports a history of hypertension, congestive heart failure, and angina, for which the patient takes nitroglycerin. The baseline vital signs are acceptable and the room-air pulse oximeter reading is 45%. What is your immediate action in caring for this patient?

Here are some cardiovascular emergencies that EMTs may encounter: Cardiac arrest: When the heart stops pumping blood, leading to loss of consciousness and normal breathing. This can be marked by sudden collapse, absence of pulse, and cessation of breathing. Defibrillation: An electrical shock that restores a normal heart rhythm in someone experiencing cardiac arrest. Bradycardia: A heart rate below 60 beats per minute. Symptomatic bradycardia can include dizziness, feeling faint upon standing, shortness of breath, and a low heart rate. Tachycardia: A heart rate above 100 beats per... Show more

Here are some cardiovascular emergencies that EMTs may encounter:
Cardiac arrest: When the heart stops pumping blood, leading to loss of consciousness and normal breathing. This can be marked by sudden collapse, absence of pulse, and cessation of breathing.
Defibrillation: An electrical shock that restores a normal heart rhythm in someone experiencing cardiac arrest.
Bradycardia: A heart rate below 60 beats per minute. Symptomatic bradycardia can include dizziness, feeling faint upon standing, shortness of breath, and a low heart rate.
Tachycardia: A heart rate above 100 beats per minute.
Chest pain: A symptom that can be an indicator of many underlying problems, whether mild or sharp, or simply an aching discomfort.
Dyspnea: Shortness of breath. It can be the primary manifestation of cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, neuromuscular disorders or obesity.
Hypertensive emergencies: An acute, severe elevation in blood pressure accompanied by end-organ compromise.

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