Which information given by a patient admitted with chronic stable angina will help the nurse confirm this diagnosis?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Chronic stable angina is characterized by predictable chest pain precipitated by physical exertion or emotional stress and reliably relieved by rest or short-acting nitrates (sublingual nitroglycerin).

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Pathophysiology: fixed atherosclerotic coronary obstruction causing demand ischemia.  
- Clinical features of stable angina: reproducible pattern (same level of exertion), short duration, relief with rest or sublingual nitroglycerin within minutes.  
- Features suggesting instability or other causes: increasing frequency/severity, pain at rest or nocturnal pain, or pain not relieved by nitroglycerin suggest unstable angina, acute coronary syndrome, or variant (Prinzmetal) angina.

2) Step-by-step reasoning
Step 1: Compare each option to the hallmark of stable angina (predictable, relieved by rest/NTG).  
Step 2: Option A states pain resolved after one sublingual nitroglycerin tablet — matches classic response of stable angina. Sublingual nitroglycerin produces vasodilation, decreases myocardial oxygen demand, and typically relieves ischemic chest pain within several minutes.  
Step 3: Option B (pain rated 3–5) describes intensity but not the pattern or response to therapy; pain severity alone does not confirm stability.  
Step 4: Option C (increased frequency over weeks) indicates progression — a red flag for unstable angina.  
Step 5: Option D (pain wakes me at night) suggests rest pain/vasospasm, more consistent with unstable or variant angina rather than stable exertional angina.

3) Calculations/intermediate steps
No numeric calculations are required; the key temporal/response criterion is relief after NTG within minutes (typically <5 minutes), which is the intermediate clinical test supporting stable angina.

4) Why the correct answer is correct
Option A directly demonstrates the classic clinical test for stable angina: reproducible ischemic pain that resolves with a single dose of sublingual nitroglycerin. This immediate, consistent response indicates demand ischemia from fixed coronary narrowing rather than an evolving plaque rupture or rest ischemia.

5) Why the other options are incorrect
- B: Pain intensity alone is nonspecific and does not confirm stability.  
- C: Increased frequency suggests clinical instability and possible progression to unstable angina.  
- D: Nocturnal pain or pain that wakes the patient is more typical of unstable or variant angina, not chronic stable angina.

6) Conclusion
Therefore, the statement that the pain is resolved after taking one sublingual nitroglycerin tablet is the best information to confirm chronic stable angina. This matches the provided correct answer.

Which information given by a patient admitted with chronic stable angina will help the nurse confirm this diagnosis? 单项选择题

类似问题

When women have heart attacks they are more likely than men to die within a year.

Which of the following terms means pertaining to the heart and blood vessels?

Which of the following characteristics are typical of stable angina? (Multiple Selection)

Paramedics attend a 63year old presenting with ACS and strongly suspect a myocardial infarction. The 12 lead ECG shows:

What is the main function of the heart?

Which of the following signs/symptoms would be most indicative of Left-sided heart failure

Name the major blood vessel that the black arrow is pointing at in this image [input]

Question at position 29 The cardiovascular system __________. pumps and transports blood responds to internal and external stimuli secretes hormones eliminates nitrogenous wastes

更多留学生实用工具

智能学习助手

风格化写作助手

论文查重助手

文献引用助手

课堂转译助手

课堂笔记助手

Quiz搜索助手

学校历年真题

智能刷题助手

智能匹配练习

希望你的学习变得更简单