Question

While assessing a patient who is complaining of chest pain, you note the following: the patient's skin is pale, cool, and moist, pulses 120 and thready, respirations 32 and shallow, blood pressure 90/60. This patient is most likely suffering from:

a) Myocardial infarction
b) Anxiety attack
c) Hypertension
d) Dehydration

Answer 1

The patient with pale, cool, and moist skin, rapid thready pulse, shallow respirations, and low blood pressure is most likely suffering from a myocardial infarction, considering the severity of symptoms which include possible angina and dyspnea. The correct option is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient described is showing signs of a myocardial infarction (MI), more commonly known as a heart attack. Symptoms indicative of an MI include pale, cool, and moist skin; a rapid, thready pulse; shallow respirations; and low blood pressure. MIs can present with sudden chest pain beneath the sternum, called angina pectoris, which can radiate down the left arm.

The symptom profile also typically includes difficulty breathing, shortness of breath (dyspnea), irregular heartbeat, nausea and vomiting, and sweating. While these symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions, such as anxiety attacks or simple indigestion, the combination of symptoms and the severity of presentation suggest that this patient is likely experiencing an MI.