Egan's Fundamentals Of Respiratory Care Practice Test

Which current level can cause serious heart issues?

50 mA 60 mA 75 mA 100 mA

Correct Answer:

100 mA

Explanation:

Electrical current through the chest can disrupt the heart’s electrical activity and trigger ventricular fibrillation, a chaotic and life-threatening rhythm. As current increases, the risk of this dangerous disturbance rises. Around 100 mA, especially with alternating current at typical mains frequencies (50–60 Hz), the heart is susceptible to being driven into a fatal arrhythmia. Lower levels like 50–75 mA tend to cause painful shocks or uncomfortable muscle contractions but are less likely to provoke serious heart rhythm problems. Therefore, 100 mA is the level most associated with potentially serious cardiac issues.

Access more questions from this quiz

Continue to Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care Practice Test for more practice questions and the full quiz experience.

Access More Questions