Chapter 18: Common Chronic and Acute Conditions

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering medical terminology, chronic and acute illnesses, and nursing assistant care guidelines from Chapter 18.

Closed wound

A type of injury in which the skin's surface has not been broken, such as a contusion or hematoma.

Hematoma

A closed wound caused by damage to a blood vessel that causes blood to collect under the skin.

Open wound

A break in the skin where the skin is not intact, categorized into incisions, lacerations, abrasions, and puncture wounds.

Atopic dermatitis

Also known as eczema, a non-contagious skin condition characterized by dry, itchy, inflamed skin and crusty rashes, commonly occurring alongside allergies such as asthma or hay fever.

Stasis dermatitis

A skin condition affecting the lower legs and ankles caused by fluid buildup under the skin, which impairs circulation and leads to fragile, poorly nourished skin or open ulcers.

Osteoarthritis

A degenerative joint disease (DJD) affecting cartilage and bone that commonly impacts elderly weight-bearing joints such as hips and knees, causing pain and stiffness that worsens in cold, damp weather.

Rheumatoid arthritis

An autoimmune disorder that can affect people of any age, where the immune system attacks joint tissue, leading to red, swollen, severely painful joints and disabling deformities.

Osteoporosis

A condition in which bones lose density and become porous and brittle, making them break easily due to factors like aging, lack of calcium, or loss of estrogen after menopause.

Compound fracture

An open fracture in which the broken bone penetrates through the skin, presenting a high risk of infection and typically requiring immediate surgical repair.

Total hip replacement (THR)

The surgical replacement of the head of the femur where it joins the hip socket, performed to relieve pain, restore mobility, or treat severe hip fractures.

Abduction pillow

A wedge-shaped device placed between a resident's legs and strapped into place for $6$ to $12$ weeks after hip replacement surgery to keep hips and lower extremities properly immobilized and positioned.

Sequential compression device (SCD)

A plastic, air-filled sleeve applied to the legs and connected to an automatic inflation machine to stimulate normal muscle contractions and prevent blood clot formation.

Continuous passive motion (CPM) machine

An electrical machine used after total knee replacement that moves the knee continuously through its normal range of motion without active effort from the patient.

Muscular dystrophy (MD)

A progressive, inherited disorder characterized by gradual muscle wasting, deformity, and physical disability starting in childhood or birth.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

A progressive disease, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, that causes muscle atrophy, weakness in limbs and throat, and respiratory failure, typically having an average survival of $2$ to $5$ years.

Phantom limb pain

Actual pain felt in an extremity that has been surgically amputated, often caused by remaining damaged nerve endings.

Phantom sensation

The feeling of warmth, tingling, or itching in a body part that has been surgically removed, making the person feel as if the limb is still present.

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

A stroke or brain attack occurring when arterial blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or a cranial blood vessel ruptures, causing localized or contralateral neurological deficits.

Parkinson's disease

A progressive, incurable neurodegenerative condition marked by the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells, causing tremors, muscle stiffness, stooped posture, and a shuffling gait.

Pill-rolling

A characteristic tremor in Parkinson's disease where the tips of the thumb and index finger make a continuous circular rubbing motion.

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

An unpredictable autoimmune disease of the central nervous system in which the myelin sheath covering nerves breaks down over time, disrupting message transmission to and from the brain.

Paresis

Partial paralysis or muscular weakness affecting a specific part or one side of the body.

Paraplegia

Loss of motor or sensory function affecting the lower body and both legs, commonly caused by a spinal cord injury.

Quadriplegia

Loss of function in both arms, trunk, and legs resulting from injury to the cervical spine.

Cataract

A disorder where the clear lens of the eye turns cloudy, preventing light from entering and progressively dimming and blurring vision until it is surgically removed and replaced with an artificial lens.

Glaucoma

A condition characterized by elevated intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, serving as the leading cause of blindness in the United States.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

A condition in adults aged $50$ and older where the macula of the retina deteriorates, impairing central vision while preserving peripheral vision.

Diabetic retinopathy

Damage to the blood vessels of the retina caused by diabetes, presenting with symptoms such as spots, night blindness, and blurred vision, which can lead to permanent vision loss.

Hypertension (HTN)

A cardiovascular condition clinically diagnosed when blood pressure consistently measures $130/80\,\text{mmHg}$ or higher, frequently caused by atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis

The hardening and narrowing of blood vessels caused by the buildup of fatty plaque along arterial walls.

Angina

Chest discomfort, pressure, or pain resulting from cardiac ischemia (insufficient oxygen and blood supply to the myocardium), often radiating down the left arm, neck, or jaw.

Nitroglycerin

A fast-acting vasodilator medication taken sublingually as a tablet or spray, or absorbed through a skin patch, to relax coronary arteries and relieve angina.

Myocardial infarction (MI)

A medical emergency, commonly called a heart attack, where blood supply through a coronary artery is entirely or partially blocked, resulting in tissue death of the heart muscle.

Congestive heart failure (CHF)

A condition in which the heart muscle is too damaged to pump effectively, leading to fluid backing up into the lungs (left-sided) or causing systemic edema in the legs and abdomen (right-sided).

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

A disorder of poor circulation to the extremities due to narrowed, hardened blood vessels, causing cold limbs, bluish nail beds, leg ulcers, and severe walking pain.

Embolism

An obstruction of a blood vessel caused by a detached traveling blood clot, foreign substance, or air bubble that blocks circulation.

Chronic bronchitis

A progressive form of COPD typically triggered by cigarette smoking, marked by chronic inflammation of the bronchial lining, persistent cough, and excess mucus and sputum production.

Emphysema

A chronic, irreversible lung disease causing breathlessness, coughing, and damaged air sacs that trap air in the lungs, usually caused by long-term cigarette smoking.

Pursed-lip breathing

A breathing technique taught to patients with COPD where air is inhaled slowly through the nose and exhaled slowly through puckered lips as if whistling.

Bronchiectasis

A chronic condition where bronchial tubes become abnormally and permanently enlarged due to recurrent infections or cystic fibrosis, treated using postural drainage and antibiotics.

Tuberculosis (TB)

A highly contagious bacterial lung infection characterized by chronic coughing, nighttime sweats, slight fever, fatigue, and hemoptysis (bloody sputum).

Insulin

A hormone produced by the pancreas that enables body cells to absorb glucose from circulating blood to use for energy.

Type 1 diabetes

A lifelong endocrine condition, usually diagnosed in children and young adults, wherein the pancreas produces little to no insulin, necessitating regular blood tests and daily insulin therapy.

Type 2 diabetes

The most prevalent form of diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance or relative insulin deficiency, often linked to obesity, advancing age, and physical inactivity.

Graves' disease

An autoimmune disorder causing hyperthyroidism, where excess thyroid hormone accelerates body metabolism, leading to rapid heartbeat, sweating, weight loss, and tremors.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis

An autoimmune disorder in which antibodies attack the thyroid gland, leading to hypothyroidism with slowed metabolism, fatigue, weight gain, constipation, and cold intolerance.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

A noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland common in men over $60$, which places pressure on the urethra and causes urinary dribbling, frequency, and retention.

Chancre

A painless ulcer or sore that appears on the penis or within the vagina during the primary stage of syphilis infection.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

The advanced, final stage of HIV infection diagnosed when an individual's CD4+ lymphocyte count drops to $200\,\text{cells}/\mu\text{L}$ or below, or when opportunistic diseases develop.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART)

A pharmacologic regimen combining three or more specific antiviral medications taken daily at exact times to control HIV replication and prevent disease progression.

Kaposi's sarcoma

A rare type of vascular skin cancer causing purple, red, or brown lesions, commonly manifesting as an opportunistic malignancy in people with AIDS.

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)

A severe opportunistic fungal lung infection caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii that occurs in immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with AIDS.

Metastasis

The process by which malignant cancer cells spread from their primary site of origin to invade surrounding tissues and distant anatomical systems.

Targeted therapy

A type of cancer treatment using drugs specifically designed to exploit cellular differences between cancerous and normal cells to attack tumors without harming all healthy cells.

Mastectomy

The surgical removal of all or part of the breast and underlying tissue, typically performed to treat or prevent breast cancer.