Question

A 70 year old client presents to the ER with complaints of chest pain. While taking the health history, the client states, "It's hurt for a while, but today is worse. It even occurs when I am lying on the couch; and it does not improves when I take those pills under my tongue." The competent nurse knows this pain will most likely be classified as

Answer 1

The client's chest pain, which is worsening and occurs even at rest without improvement with nitroglycerin, is indicative of unstable angina. This condition is serious and requires urgent medical attention as it can precede a heart attack.

Step-by-step explanation:

The 70-year-old client presenting to the ER with chest pain that has worsened and occurs during rest, and that does not improve with nitroglycerin, is most likely experiencing unstable angina. Unstable angina is a type of chest pain that occurs when heart muscle cells do not receive adequate blood flow and become starved of oxygen, a condition known as ischemia. This type of angina is more serious than stable angina as it occurs without exertion and can be a precursor to a heart attack. The chest pain associated with angina can often feel like a pressing or squeezing sensation and might be accompanied by symptoms such as pain spreading to the arms, shortness of breath, sweating, or nausea.