Problems occuring in the Heart

The heart is a system that has to be exact in all of its functions from start to finish for each beat to beat successfully. If an problem occurs, severe or minor, it can cause death for the patient. Physicians can look at a simple ECG reading and can tell if the patient is having any problems that can either be fatal or could lead to something fatal. Some heart problems that plague humans around the world are arrhythmias.

Arrhythmias are abnormal beats that can be detected on the ECG. Two of the arrhythmias that people with heart problems encounter are tachycardia and bradycardia. Tachycardia is a problem in which the heart beats at a rate faster than the normal human heart rate. Treatment for tachycardia consists of cardioversion or the delivery of a broad depolarizing shock to a restricted region of the heart. Rapid bursts of pacemaker impulses timed and placed at the proper time can often stop the tachycardia. Bradycardia is a problem in which the heart beats at a rate slower than the normal human heart rate. An implanted pacemaker can restore the lower heart rate to a more physiological value that will improve cardiovascular function.

Fibrillation is another major problem that affects the heart. Fibrillation is the uncontrolled beating of different parts of the heart. Ventricular fibrillation is a fatal arrhythmia of the heart in which the victim will die in minutes if it is not corrected. Atrial fibrillation is a less serious arrhythmia because the ventricles are still pumping. However it can lead to problems if it is not corrected. Heart block is another problem caused by the interruption of the internal electroconduction system of the heart. These are a few heart problems that people encounter that can be conquered with help from pacemakers, defibrillators, and modern technology.

UNIT 3

Exercise 1. Read and translate the text.

Defibrillators

The defibrillator is a device to be used by physicians for control of all critical care situations. The generation of modern units was developed in close consultation with medical experts to give them more reliability and greater control in any situation.

In critical care situations, physicians need to concentrate on the patient, not on the equipment. It's essential, therefore, that their defibrillator responds intelligently, accurately and on demand. Designed with the patient and user in mind, the new highly portable defibrillator and cardiac care system help emergency care clinicians expedite confident patient care.

Rugged design and water-tight standard conformity make some of the defibrillators ideally suited for both demanding emergency care environments and out-of-hospital use. The vibrant find-it-anywhere yellow housing and lightweight ergonomic design make them easy to use in fast-paced settings.

Sophisticated configuration and service modes allow easy device set-up and servicing. The monitor with its high-resolution display can be rotated by up to 180°, allowing you to keep an eye on your patient wherever you are: on the ward, in the operating theatre, intensive care or emergency admissions. All the important critical event data are recorded automatically and archived in the memory for recall when required, e.g. for a printout.

Just one gesture is all it takes to start the 3-step operating procedure quickly and easily. The clearly identifiable, colour-coded steps exclude virtually all-operating error and win you precious time. In the 'Autosequence' mode, normal adult energy levels (pre-configured) are selected automatically in succession without any need to increase the energy level, leaving you free to concentrate entirely on the patient.

The unit's compact design and low weight (only 8 kg, including mains adaptor, battery and paddles) plus optional SpO (oxygen saturation measurement) and/or external pacemaker means you have all the essential equipment you need at hand in the clinic and in pre-hospital use, now and in the future.

Exercise 2. Make words from the following group of letters and make sentences with them:

Dreotfiablri, leasisten, noexgy, tuin, tenqeuipm, ybraett, tapniet, adat, dyaslp, darw.

Exercise 3. Fill in the gaps:

1. The defibrillator is a ____ to be used by physicians ____ control of all ___ care situations.

2.__ critical care situations, physicians need ___ concentrate on the patient, not __the equipment.

3. The generation ___ modern units ___ developed in close consultation ___ medical

4. Sophisticated configuration ___ service modes allow easy device __ up and _____.

5. All ___ important critical event data ___ recorded automatically and archived in __ memory ___ recall when required.

6. Just one gesture ___ all it takes ___ start the 3-step operating procedure ____ and easily.

7. ___ clearly identifiable, colour-____ steps exclude virtually ___ operating error.

Exercise 4. Decide whether the sentence is true or false:

1.The defibrillator is a device to be used by psychiatrist.

2. In critical care situations, physicians need to concentrate on the equipment.

3. The defibrillators are designed with the patient and user in mind.

4. The monitor with its high-resolution display can be rotated by up to 185°.

5. All the important critical event data are not recorded automatically.

6. It takes a lot of time to start the 3-step operating procedure.

7. Sophisticated configuration and service modes allow easy device set-up and servicing.

Exercise 5. Divide the following words into categories:

Defibrillator, data, service, sophisticated, display, rotate, concentrate, develop, automatically, design, mode, archive, compact, battery, set-up, allow, essential, device.

Exercise 6. Continue the sentences:

1. Just one gesture is all it takes to start the 3-step operating procedure…

2. In critical care situations, physicians need to concentrate on the patient…

3. All the important critical event data are recorded automatically and …

4. The monitor with its high-resolution display allows you to keep an eye on your patient wherever you are: …

5. The generation of modern units was developed in close consultation with medical experts to give them more reliability and …

6. The vibrant find-it-anywhere yellow housing and lightweight ergonomic design makes them easy to …

7. Rugged design and water-tight standard conformity make some of the defibrillators ideally suited for both demanding emergency care environments and…

Exercise 7. Match please the following words and translate phrases that you have composed:

critical care units

modern consultation

close situations

energy adaptor

ideally configuration

sophisticated recorded

automatically suited

mains level

Exercise 8. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the defibrillator used for?

2. Can this device be used only in clinics?

3. How are the important critical event data recorded?

4. What is the weight of this device?

5. Express your opinion: is it necessary to create and develop such devices?

6. What important qualities does the defibrillator have?

7. Does the construction of the defibrillator help the clinician to concentrate on patient or on the equipment?

Exercise 9. Find please in the texts English equivalents for such words and word combination as:

Дефібрилятор, медичні експерти, створені з думкою про пацієнта та споживача, водонепроникний, операційна, палата інтенсивної терапії, виключати фактичні помилки, вимірювання кисневого насичення.