HA Exam 2

• Blood pressure is the force of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels.
• The physical examination evaluates the patient's vital signs, general appearance, and specific organ system findings to detect any abnormalities.
• The medical history is an interview with the patient to determine past and present health issues, lifestyle factors, and other medical information needed to assess health status.
• Hypertension refers to high blood pressure levels that are consistently above 140/90 mm Hg.
• The normal range for systolic blood pressure (SBP) is between 90-120 mm Hg, while diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ranges from 60 to 80 mm Hg.
• Hypotension refers to low blood pressure levels below 90/60 mm Hg.
• Vital signs include temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure.
• General appearance includes skin color, texture, turgor, moisture, and hair growth or loss.
• Physical examination includes inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, and manipulation techniques used by healthcare providers to evaluate patients' body systems.
• Inspection involves observing the patient's overall appearance, posture, skin color, texture, lesions or scars, and movement patterns.
• Diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) represents the pressure between beats when the heart relaxes and fills with blood.
• Diagnostic tests such as laboratory tests, imaging studies, and electrocardiogram provide objective data to evaluate health and identify potential disease or disorders.
• Health assessment includes identifying and describing assessment techniques and expected and abnormal findings for the body regions of the Head, Face, and Neck, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth, and Throat.
• Variations in HEENT assessment findings can occur across the lifespan.
• Signs and symptoms of common disorders affecting the HEENT can be identified through health history.
• Cranial Nerves (CNs) innervate motor and sensory functions of the HEENT, which is why they are discussed this week.
• Subjective Data includes health history, health promotion, substance use, changes in hearing, vision, taste, smell, and acute vision changes.
• Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a condition where fatty deposits in the macula cause loss of central vision.
• Glaucoma is a group of diseases that increases intraocular pressure (IOP) and damages the optic nerve.
• Diabetic Retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S., and regular eye exams are important.
• A normal pupil accommodates bilaterally.
• An assessment finding of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is reported vision difficulties when reading.
• Strabismus is an abnormal ocular alignment due to extraocular muscle weakness, and if untreated, can lead to amblyopia (“lazy eye”) which results in permanent vision loss.
• Cataracts are an opacity of the lens often caused by aging, resulting in blurred vision, night blindness, cloudy lens, and abnormal red reflex.
• Retinal Detachment is an acute onset of flashcard>
• Physical examination of the HEENT includes checking for normocephalic, intact Cranial Nerve VII (Facial), motor and sensory functions of the Head/Face, Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ), and Cranial Nerves V (Trigeminal), XI (Spinal Accessory), and XII (Hypothalamic).
• Lymphatic system is a major part of the immune system, allowing the flow of clear fluid from tissues into circulation, and filtering lymph and engulfing and destroying pathogens, preventing harmful substances from entering the circulation.
• Lymph nodes are the greatest supply in the head and neck, and all nodes will eventually drain into the deep cervical chain.
• Sluggish pupillary reflexes are common during pregnancy.
• Risk factors for OM include second-hand smoke, daycare attendance, eczema/asthma/allergies, and pacifier use.
• Brown macules on sclera are common in older adults.
• Almost all infants will get OM due to anatomical differences.
• Lymph nodes may be palpable in children until puberty.
• Diminished gag reflex is common during pregnancy.
• Gray-blue color to sclera is common in older adults.
• Sunken (concave) fontanels indicate dehydration.
• There is an increased incidence of dry mouth and dry eyes during pregnancy.
• Older Adults: Hyperpigmentation is common in Black people.
• Pregnancy: The thyroid gland may be more easily palpable due to increased blood flow.
• External eyes can show changes including yellow nodules on the sclera and a gray arc around the cornea during pregnancy.