A 51-year-old male has come to the health clinic for his annual physical exam. After exerting himself by walking from his car to the clinic, he experienced substernal pain, discomfort in his left shoulder, and his jaw.
These symptoms lasted for 2-3 minutes and then subsided with rest.
He mentions that this has been a frequent occurrence over the past few months with similar levels of exertion.
What is the nurse likely to suspect he is experiencing?
Stable angina.
Prinzmetal angina.
Myocardial infarction (MI).
Unstable angina.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
Stable angina typically occurs with exertion and goes away with rest. The symptoms described, including substernal pain, discomfort in the left shoulder and jaw, which subside with rest, are characteristic of stable angina.
Choice B rationale
Prinzmetal angina, also known as variant angina, is a type of angina (chest pain) caused by spasms in the coronary arteries. These spasms occur most often in coronary arteries that have not become hardened due to plaque buildup. However, they can also occur in hardened arteries. The symptoms can be similar to those of stable angina, but the typical triggers for the episodes are different.
Choice C rationale
A myocardial infarction (MI), or heart attack, occurs when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked, often by a blood clot, causing part of the heart muscle to be damaged or die. The symptoms are usually more severe than what is described and do not typically subside with rest.
Choice D rationale
Unstable angina is a condition in which the angina symptoms become more severe, occur more frequently, or occur at rest. This is a medical emergency as it can often lead to a heart attack.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
While obesity can contribute to hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, it is not a contraindication for the use of propranolol. Weight management would be part of the overall treatment plan for hypertension, but it would not prevent the use of this medication.
Choice B rationale
Age is not a contraindication for the use of propranolol. While older adults may be more susceptible to certain side effects of the medication, age alone would not prevent a patient from taking propranolol.
Choice C rationale
Diabetes is a contraindication for the use of propranolol. Propranolol is a non-selective beta- blocker, which can mask symptoms of hypoglycemia, a common condition in people with diabetes. Therefore, it’s generally not recommended for people with diabetes.
Choice D rationale
Race is not a contraindication for the use of propranolol. While there are some differences in how people of different races may respond to certain medications, race alone would not prevent a patient from taking propranolol.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Sinus tachycardia is a regular, rapid heart rate caused by rapid firing of the sinoatrial node. It is characterized by a heart rate of greater than 100 beats per minute, and P waves are present before each QRS complex. This does not match the description given.
Choice B rationale
Ventricular tachycardia is a fast, regular beating of the ventricles that may last for only a few seconds or for much longer. In this condition, the ventricular rate is often between 120 and 200 beats per minute, and P waves are not associated with the QRS complexes. This matches the description given.
Choice C rationale
Ventricular fibrillation is a severe condition in which the heart beats with rapid, erratic electrical impulses. This causes the ventricles to quiver uselessly instead of pumping blood. The description does not match this condition.
Choice D rationale
Atrial flutter is a condition that shares similarities with atrial fibrillation, both involve an irregular heartbeat. However, atrial flutter is more organized and less chaotic than atrial fibrillation, which can make it more manageable. The description does not match this condition.
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