New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

What condition is characterized by a pulse that is thready?

1. Dehydration

2. Internal bleeding

3. Heart attack

4. Severe infection

The correct answer is: Internal bleeding

A thready pulse is often indicative of a low volume of blood circulating in the body, which can occur in various medical conditions. Internal bleeding can lead to a decreased blood volume because blood is lost from the vascular system. When there is internal bleeding, the body may not be able to maintain adequate pressure and circulation, resulting in a pulse that feels weak or thready. In cases of severe dehydration, although a weak or thready pulse can also occur, the loss of fluid is more prominent and can cause a range of symptoms. A heart attack might manifest with a different pulse quality, often leading to irregular heart rhythms. Severe infection might cause a rapid or bounding pulse due to the body’s response, making it less likely to be characterized as thready. Thus, internal bleeding is the condition that most accurately correlates with a thready pulse, as it results from the acute loss of blood volume, leading to diminished circulation and a weak pulse.