Question

A 50-year-old man with a history of hypertension began experiencing chest pressure while mowing his lawn. After taking a baby aspirin and resting for approximately 10 minutes, the pressure in his chest completely resolved. Which of the following would BEST explain this?

a) The aspirin reduced his blood pressure
b) The pain was not of cardiac origin
c) The rest reduced his heart rate
d) The aspirin prevented blood clotting

Answer 1

The pain was not of cardiac origin. Chest pain or pressure can be a symptom of a heart attack, but in this case, the fact that the pressure completely resolved after taking aspirin and resting suggests it was not of cardiac origin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is b) The pain was not of cardiac origin.

Chest pressure or pain can be a symptom of a heart attack. However, in this case, the fact that the pressure completely resolved after taking a baby aspirin and resting for 10 minutes suggests that the pain was not of cardiac origin. If the pain had been due to a heart attack, it would not have completely resolved with rest and aspirin.

It is important to note that aspirin is not typically used to lower blood pressure, but rather to reduce the risk of blood clotting. Aspirin inhibits the aggregation of platelets, which can help prevent blood clots from forming.