If a passenger suddenly experiences intense chest pain followed by collapse, what is the most likely cause?
Refer to figure.
ANGINA
The heart needs oxygen to function which is delivered to the heart by the coronary arteries. The gradual narrowing of the corronary arteries will reduce the blood that reaches the heart muscle. This will result in less oxygen being delivered to the heart and will trigger symptoms of angina, especially during exercise or stress that the heart requires larger amount of oxygen than at rest. The symptoms of angina include mild chest pain, fatigue and shortness of breath. Therefore, angina is an acute manifestation of a long-term cardiovascular issue.
HEART ATTACK
Heart Attack is also called Myocardial Infarction. Angina is often a precursor to the development of a heart attack. While angina is due to narrowing of the coronary arteries, heart attack is due to the blockage of the coronary arteries, usually by a clot. The result of heart attack is that oxygen will no longer reach some portion of the heart muscle, and this specific portion of the heart muscle may die. Often, an initial symptom of a heart attack is sudden left arm pain (due to shared nerve fibres from the heart and the left arm up to the brain) that gets increasingly intense over the course of a few minutes. Other symptoms of heart attack are severe chest pain, feeling weak, pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back, shortness of breath, collapse. A heart attack is a life-threatening condition and the patient should should get assistance as soon as possible.
- Angina → Narrowing of coronary arteries that causes mild chest pain during exercise which stops after a couple minutes.
- Heart Attack → Blockage of coronary arteries that may cause a piece of the heart to die. It often triggers pain in the left arm that gets increasingly intense, and is followed by severe chest pain, feeling weak, shortness of breath and collapse.
Let's analyze the given options:
A heart attacks. → CORRECT. A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when blood flow to part of the heart is completely blocked. Symptoms include severe chest pain, feeling weak, pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back, shortness of breath, collapse.
An angina attacks → INCORRECT. Angina is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, leading to symptoms such as mild chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, pale skin.
Hyperventilation → INCORRECT. Hyperventilation (rapid breathing) can cause dizziness, anxiety and fainting.
Hypoxia → INCORRECT. Hypoxia symptoms include shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, confusion, headache, dizziness, impaired judgement, loss of consciousness. Chest pain is not a hypoxia symptom.
Your Notes (not visible to others)
This question has appeared on the real examination, you can find the related countries below.