Question

A hospitalized patient with a history of chronic stable angian tells the nurse that she is having chest pain. The nurse bases his actions on the knowledge that ischemia?

A) will always progress to MI
B) will be relieved by rest, nitro, or both
C) indicates that irreversible myocardial damage is occurring
D) is frequently associated with vomiting and extreme fatigue

Answer 1

Ischemia, as indicated by angina, often improves with rest or nitroglycerin and does not always lead to myocardial infarction or irreversible damage to the heart muscle.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the heart muscle does not receive adequate blood flow, it experiences ischemia, which can manifest as angina, chest pain or discomfort. In the case of a patient with a history of chronic stable angina, when she reports chest pain, it's essential for the nurse to assess the situation quickly, as this could indicate the angina has become unstable. Stable angina typically improves with rest or medications such as nitroglycerin, which dilates coronary arteries to improve blood flow. However, it's also important to recognize that while ischemia can lead to more severe conditions like myocardial infarction (MI), not all ischemic events progress to MI, and not all episodes of angina cause irreversible myocardial damage.