An elderly patient is surprised to learn of the diagnosis of a heart attack because she had a minor upper back ache and "stomach flu.". Which of the following should the nurse explain to the patient?

Question

1. It is rare but a backache and a stomach ache can occur as a signal of a heart attack.
2. Usually a patient has chest and arm pain with a heart attack.
3. The symptoms of a heart attack change as people age. Back pain and stomach involvement might be the only symptoms that occur.
4. I am surprised that you did have a heart attack. Your symptoms did not sound that severe.

Answer 1

3

Rationale: Elderly patients with cardiac ischemia and an acute myocardial infarction or heart attack may have atypical symptoms. These symptoms include shortness of breath, abdominal, throat, or back pain, syncope, acute confusion, flu-like symptoms, stroke, and/or falls. Because these symptoms are atypical, diagnosis and treatment might be delayed. The nurse should explain that the symptoms of a heart attack change as a person ages and that the backache and stomach flu were the symptoms that they experienced for the health problem. The nurse should not tell the patient that the symptoms they experienced were rare. The nurse should also not tell the patient that heart attack symptoms are usually arm and chest pain. The nurse should also not tell the patient that she is surprised with the patient's diagnosis.