Question

While the patient was lying in supine position awaiting for dental treatment, she experiences a sudden pain in the chest that lasted about 3 minutes and resolved on its own. This is most likely to be:

a. angina
b. myocardial infarctioni
c. allergy
d. heart attack

Answer 1

The sudden chest pain that resolved on its own is likely angina, especially if it's unstable angina, which occurs at rest and lasts a short time. This condition needs urgent medical attention to rule out a heart attack.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sudden onset of chest pain described by the patient, which resolved on its own after a short duration, is most likely to be angina. Angina is a type of chest pain or pressure that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen due to restricted blood flow, often caused by a partial blockage in the coronary arteries. The distinction between angina and a myocardial infarction (heart attack) is critically important. Stable angina typically occurs with exertion and can be relieved by rest or medication, while unstable angina can occur at rest and is more concerning, potentially heralding an impending heart attack. In this case, since the pain resolved quickly and occurred while the patient was at rest, it suggests the possibility of unstable angina which requires urgent medical evaluation.