Need assistance with these medical terms...

Inkleberry · Jun 22, 2005

This is my first post on allnurses. I'm getting ready to start LPN school on the fall and am taking some prerequisites this summer. Can anyone help me out with the difference in these terms. I'm so confused!
APNEA
ANOXIA
HYPOXIA
ASPHYXIA
DYSPNEA
They all seem so close in meaning. TIA - Debbie

Apnea -pause in breathing

Anoxia=condition in which there is an absence of oxygen supply to an organ's tissues

Hypoxia is a condition in which there is a decrease of oxygen to the tissue in spite of adequate blood flow to the tissue.

Asphyxia-Suffocation as a result of too little oxygen or too much carbon dioxide in the blood. Can be brought on by high ambient carbon dioxide concentrations which can restrict the ability of he fish to excrete carbon dioxide.

Dyspnea-Difficult or labored breathing; shortness of breath

DYS difficulty in...like dysomnia-difficulty sleeping

ceecel.dee, MSN, RN · Jun 22, 2005

This is my first post on allnurses. I'm getting ready to start LPN school on the fall and am taking some prerequisites this summer. Can anyone help me out with the difference in these terms. I'm so confused!
APNEA
ANOXIA
HYPOXIA
ASPHYXIA
DYSPNEA
They all seem so close in meaning. TIA - Debbie

Apnea - an absence of spontaneous respiration.

Anoxia - a lack of oxygen. May be local or systemic and may be the result of an inadequate supply of oxygen to the respiratory system or of an inability of the blood to carry oxygen to the tissues.

Hypoxia - an inadequate, reduced tension of cellular oxygen, characterized by cyanosis, tachycardia, hypertension, peripheral vasoconstriction, dizziness, and mental confusion.

Asphyxia - severe hypoxia leading to hypoxemia (deficiency of oxygen in arterial blood) and hypercapnia (high carbon dioxide levels in the blood), loss of consciousness, and if not corrected, death.

Dyspnea - shortness of breath

All found in the trusty Mosby's Medical Dictionary

DebbieLynne · Jun 23, 2005

Thank you everyone! I checked out a Black's Medical Dictionary from the library, but it's not too great. I think I will invest in a Mosby's. I searched online for these terms and actually got the exact same definitions for anoxia & hypoxia.

Debbie

angelymick · Jun 23, 2005

Check out Taber's cyclopedic medical dictionary, little pricey but worth the cost, you won't need to buy another. Good luck in the fall, I will be in my second year of my LPN course. I am doing it part time.