Which set lists warning signals suggesting acute coronary syndrome in a patient with chest pain?

Which set lists warning signals suggesting acute coronary syndrome in a patient with chest pain?

• A. Diaphoresis, dyspnea, radiation to jaw/arm, and pain lasting more than several minutes.
• B. Dizziness, fever, cough, and fatigue.
• C. Nausea, stomach pain, back pain, and headache.
• D. Shortness of breath only.

Answer: (A)

Acute coronary syndrome often presents with chest pain plus warning features that point to cardiac ischemia. The best set includes diaphoresis (sweating), dyspnea (shortness of breath), pain that radiates to the jaw or arm, and lasts for several minutes. Each of these signals is a classic sign of cardiac strain: sweating and breathing trouble show the body's stress response, radiation to the jaw or arm is a common pattern of ischemic pain, and a duration of several minutes helps distinguish true ischemic pain from brief or noncardiac discomfort. The other choices mix symptoms that are less specific to heart-related problems, such as fever or cough suggesting infection, dizziness without other signs, GI or back pain, or shortness of breath by itself. Thus, this combination most reliably indicates acute coronary syndrome in a patient with chest pain.