Question

A 66-year-old female with a history of hypertension and diabetes presents with substernal chest pressure of 2 hours' duration. Her blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, Pulse is 100 beats/minute and irregular, and respirations are 22 breaths/minute with adequate depth. The patient does not have prescribed nitroglycerin, but her husband does. You should:

A) Administer oxygen, perform a focused exam, and transport at once
B) Obtain a SAMPLE history and contact medical control for advice
C) give her 100% oxygen, attach the AED and transport immediately
D) Give her one nitroglycerin and reassess her systolic blood pressure

Answer 1

For a 66-year-old female with chest pressure and a history of hypertension and diabetes, the best course of action is to administer oxygen, perform a focused exam, and transport her immediately to the hospital while avoiding giving medications not prescribed to her.

Step-by-step explanation:

A 66-year-old female with a history of hypertension and diabetes presents with substernal chest pressure of 2 hours' duration. Given her symptoms, which might suggest an acute cardiac event, the correct course of action would be to administer oxygen, perform a focused exam, and transport her to the hospital immediately. It is crucial to manage potential myocardial infarction (heart attack) quickly to minimize heart damage. Administering someone else's nitroglycerin without a prescription is not advised. A SAMPLE history (Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, Events leading up to the illness or injury) can be taken en route if possible and safe to do so.