Final answer:
Cardiac arrest is the most immediately life-threatening condition as it involves the sudden cessation of heart function, requiring swift medical intervention. Coronary artery disease, hypertension, peripheral artery disease, and atherosclerosis are matched to their corresponding descriptions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Out of the conditions listed, cardiac arrest poses the greatest immediate risk of becoming life-threatening. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, resulting in a cessation of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs.
This condition requires immediate medical attention and can lead to death if not treated promptly with CPR and defibrillation. On the other hand, heart failure, while serious, is generally a chronic condition where the heart is weakened and cannot pump blood effectively, but it is not as sudden or immediately fatal as cardiac arrest.
Matching the descriptions to the diseases or disorders:
- Blood flow to the muscle cells of the heart is impaired - Coronary artery disease.
- Blood pressure is too high - Hypertension.
- Arteries in the legs specifically become more narrow - Peripheral artery disease.
- Plaque builds up in arteries (in general) - Atherosclerosis.
Some other conditions mentioned that can be life-threatening include severe allergic reactions leading to anaphylactic shock, infections resulting in pneumonia and organ failure, and foodborne illnesses causing severe complications such as kidney failure.