The nurse is caring for a nonsmoking female patient with the diagnosis of coronary atherosclerosis who has been admitted to the hospital with angina

Question

The patient states that she never experiences chest pain, the most common manifestation of myocardial ischemia. The nurse is not surprised at this statement and explains to the patient that:
A) Women who have ischemia are usually totally asymptomatic.
B) Women have been found to have more atypical symptoms such as dyspnea, nausea, and weakness.
C) Chest pain occurs only with strenuous exercise.
D) Cigarette smoking is usually the contributing factor to chest pain.

Answer 1

Ans: B
Feedback: Ischemia of the heart muscle may produce pain varying in severity from mild indigestion to a heavy sensation or agonizing pain in the upper chest. The most common manifestation is chest pain or pressure that may radiate to the neck, jaw, shoulders, and inner aspects of the upper arms, usually the left arm. A woman may have different symptoms than a man, because coronary disease in women tends to be more diffuse and affects long segments of the artery rather than discrete segments. Factors such as physical exertion and exposure to cold and stress may trigger an attack, but it may also occur at rest.