Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

What condition is characterized by the heart's inability to pump enough blood to the body?

1. Cerebrovascular accident

2. Congestive heart failure

3. Coronary artery disease

4. Myocardial infarction

The correct answer is: Congestive heart failure

The condition characterized by the heart's inability to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs is congestive heart failure. This condition occurs when the heart muscle becomes weakened or damaged, reducing its efficiency in pumping blood. As a result, blood can back up in the lungs and other body tissues, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, swelling, and fatigue. Congestive heart failure can be a chronic condition that develops over time, often as a result of other heart-related issues such as high blood pressure or coronary artery disease. It is distinct from the other options, which describe different cardiovascular events or conditions. For instance, a cerebrovascular accident refers to a disruption of blood flow to the brain, often resulting in a stroke, but it does not pertain directly to the pumping capacity of the heart. Coronary artery disease involves the narrowing of the coronary arteries, which can lead to issues like angina or heart attacks, but it doesn't specifically indicate the heart's overall ability to pump blood. A myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle itself but is not synonymous with heart failure. In essence, congestive heart