EMT Vocab for Signs and Symptoms

Altered mental status (AMS)

A change in the way a person thinks and behaves that may signal disease in the central nervous system or elsewhere in the body.

Syncope

fainting

Aphasia

The inability to understand and/or produce speech.

Dysarthria

Slurred speech

Ataxia

lack of muscle coordination or balance.

Paresthesia

an abnormal skin sensation often described as tingling, numbness, or a "pins and needles" feeling

Hemiparesis

is weakness on one entire side of the body

Dyspnea

shortness of breath or trouble breathing

Apnea

Absence of spontaneous breathing

Tachypnea

rapid, shallow breathing rate

Bradypnea

slow breathing rate

Orthopnea

shortness of breath when lying flat that improves when sitting or standing upright

Hemoptysis

coughing up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and breathing tubes

Pleuritic pain

a sharp, stabbing chest pain that worsens when you breathe in, cough, or sneeze

Angina pectoris

chest pain or discomfort caused when your heart muscle does not get enough oxygen-rich blood.

Tachycardia

an abnormally fast heart rate

Bradycardia

an abnormally slow heart rate

Hypotension

low blood pressure

Hypertension

high blood pressure

Dysrhythmia

An irregular or abnormal heart rhythm.

Diaphoretic

Characterized by light or profuse sweating.

Pallor

unusually pale skin or mucous membranes

Mottling

blotchy, marbled discoloration of the skin, often appearing red, purple, or bluish.

Emesis

vomiting

Hematemesis

vomiting blood

Abdominal Distention

the abdomen is abnormally swollen, enlarged, or bloated possibly due to gas build-up, fluid build-up, or a blockage

Guarding

the tensing of the abdominal muscles to protect a painful or injured area

Rigidity

abnormal muscle stiffness, constant muscle tension, and an inability of the muscles to relax

Rebound Tenderness

abdominal pain that becomes worse when pressure is suddenly released,

Melena

black, tarry, often foul-smelling stool caused by digested blood

Hematochezia

bright-red or maroon blood through the rectum

Dysphagia

difficulty swallowing; especially food and liquids

Dysuria

pain, burning, or discomfort during urination

Hematuria

blood in the urine

Oliguria

producing abnormally low urine output

Urticaria

hives

Pruritus

itchy skin

Angioedema

Localized areas of swelling beneath the skin, often around the eyes and lips, but can also involve other body areas as well.

Petechiae

pinpoint hemorrhages

Polyuria

producing abnormally large amount of urine

Polydipsia

excessive or unusually persistent thirst

Polyphagia

excessive hunger or an abnormal increase in appetite

Cephalgia

headache or pain located in the head

Ecchymosis

bruising

Retrograde amnesia

inability to remember events that occurred before an injury or traumatic event.

Anterograde (posttraumatic) amnesia

inability to form or retain new memories after a head injury.

Paradoxical Motion

The motion of the portion of the chest wall that is detached in a flail chest; the motion—in during inhalation, out during exhalation—is exactly the opposite of normal chest wall motion during breathing.

False Motion

Movement that occurs in a bone at a point where there is no joint, indicating a frac-ture; also called free movement.

Ascites

An abnormal accumulation of excess fluid in the peritoneal cavity.

Pyrosis

heartburn

Pyrexia

fever—an abnormally elevated body temperature

Malaise

general feeling of discomfort, weakness, fatigue, or being unwell like something feeling “off”

Xerostomia

dry mouth

Erythema

redness of the skin caused by increased blood flow near its surface

Epistaxis

nosebleed

Rhinorrhea

runny nose

Myalgia

muscle aches and pain, involving physical strain, infections, and stress

Arthralgia

pain in one or more joints without visible inflammation or swelling

Pyuria

having white blood cells or pus in your urine

Otalgia

ear pain or an earache

Tinnitus

hearing ringing in your ear

Blepharospasm

an abnormal, involuntary contraction or twitching of the eyelid muscles

Mydriasis

abnormal or excessive dilation (widening) of the pupil, often remaining fixed and unresponsive to changes in light

Miosis

excessive constriction or smallness of the pupil of the eye

Chorea

neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary, rapid, irregular, and unpredictable dance-like muscle movements

Incontinence

the inability of the body to control the release of urine from the bladder or stool from the rectum.

Dyspepsia

indigestion; an upset stomach