What are the ABCs in cardiology?

• A. Artery, Body, Circulation.
• B. Airway, Balance, Circulation.
• C. Airway, Breathing, Circulation.
• D. Air, Breathing, Cardiac rhythm.

Answer: (C)

The ABCs in this context are the immediate priorities when assessing an emergency cardiology patient: airway, breathing, and circulation. Securing the airway ensures air can reach the lungs and allows for advanced support if needed. Evaluating breathing checks that ventilation and oxygenation are adequate, providing supplemental oxygen or assisted ventilation as required. Circulation focuses on maintaining blood flow to vital organs—checking for a pulse and perfusion, and applying life-saving measures such as chest compressions and defibrillation if there’s cardiac arrest, or fluids and medications to support circulation as indicated. The other options use terms that aren’t part of this standardized sequence, so they don’t reflect the established priorities.