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An ECG is a way to measure and diagnose abnormal rhythms of the heart, particularly abnormal rhythms caused by damage to the conductive tissue that carries electrical signals, or abnormal rhythms caused by electrolyte imbalances. In a myocardial infarction (MI), the ECG can identify if the heart muscle has been damaged in specific areas, though not all areas of the heart are covered. The ECG cannot reliably measure the pumping ability of the heart, for which ultrasound-based (echocardiography) or nuclear medicine tests are used. It is possible for a human or other animal to be in cardiac arrest, but still have a normal ECG signal (a condition known as pulseless electrical activity). The ECG device detects and amplifies the tiny electrical changes on the skin that are caused when the heart muscle depolarizes during each heartbeat. At rest, each heart muscle cell has a negative charge, called the membrane potential, across its cell membrane. Decreasing this negative charge towards zero, ...

Asthma (from the Greek ἅσθμα, ásthma, "panting") is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Common symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.Asthma is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Its diagnosis is usually based on the pattern of symptoms, response to therapy over time, and spirometry. It is clinically classified according to the frequency of symptoms, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow rate. Asthma may also be classified as atopic (extrinsic) or non-atopic (intrinsic) where atopy refers to a predisposition toward developing type 1 hypersensitivity reactions. Treatment of acute symptoms is usually with an inhaled short-acting beta-2 agonist (such as salbutamol) and oral corticosteroids. In very severe cases intravenous corticosteroids, magnesium su...

Patient safety is a new healthcare discipline that emphasizes the reporting, analysis, and prevention of medical error that often leads to adverse healthcare events. The frequency and magnitude of avoidable adverse patient events was not well known until the 1990s, when multiple countries reported staggering numbers of patients harmed and killed by medical errors. Recognizing that healthcare errors impact 1 in every 10 patients around the world, the World Health Organization calls patient safety an endemic concern.Indeed, patient safety has emerged as a distinct healthcare discipline supported by an immature yet developing scientific framework. There is a significant transdisciplinary body of theoretical and research literature that informs the science of patient safety.The resulting patient safety knowledge continually informs improvement efforts such as: applying lessons learned from business and industry, adopting innovative technologies, educating providers and consumers, enhancing...

With First Aid for the Family Medicine Boards, we hope to provide residents and clinicians with the most useful and up-to-date preparation guide for the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) certification and recertification exams. This new addition to the First Aid series represents an outstanding effort by a talented group of authors and includes the following: ■ A practical exam preparation guide with resident-tested test-taking and study strategies ■ Concise summaries of thousands of board-testable topics ■ Hundreds of high-yield tables, diagrams, and illustrations ■ Key facts in the margins highlighting “must know” information for the boards --> ■ Mnemonics throughout, making learning memorable and fun ■ Timely updates and corrections through the First Aid Team’s blog at www.firstaidteam.com. Click picture above or click to download PDF

Download PDF --> 1. Acute Myocardial Infarction ............................................................ 1 2. Complications of Myocardial Infarction and Postinfarction Care ............................................................................................. 69 3. Cardiogenic Shock ........................................................................ 109 4. Angina ........................................................................................... 127 5. Heart Failure ................................................................................. 175 6. Arrhythmias .................................................................................. 213 7. Cardiac Arrest ............................................................................... 289 8. Hypertension ................................................................................. 299 9. Dyslipidemias....................................................................

--> Abbreviations commonly used in this book AADs antiarrhythmic drugs ABI Ankle Brachial Index ACC American College of Cardiology ACD absolute claudication distance ACE angiotensin - converting enzyme ACS acute coronary syndrome ADA adenine deaminase ADMA asymmetric dimethylarginin AF atrial fi brillation AHA American Heart Association AIS acute ischemic stroke ALI Acute limb ischemia AMI acute myocardial infarction AMR antibody - mediated rejection; acute mitral regurgitation AR aortic regurgitation ARB angiotensin receptor blockers ARF acute rheumatic fever ARR absolute risk reduction ARVC arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy ARVD arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia AS aortic stenosis ASA acetylsalicylic acid ASD atrial septal defect ASMR age - standardized mortality rates ATP adenosine triphosphate AVA aor...