A 55-year-old man arrives at the emergency department complaining of recurring retrosternal chest pain. The episodes usually occur during physical activity, such as climbing stairs or walking uphill. The patient has no known medical problems and does not smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. He is given a sublingual tablet and reports immediate pain relief. This drug most likely improved this patient's symptoms by causing which of the following hemodynamic changes?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: This patient has a classic case of chronic stable angina, characterized by chest pain that worsens with activity and is relieved by rest or sublingual nitroglycerin. Nitrates work by causing direct vascular smooth muscle relaxation, which results in decreased myocardial oxygen demand, improved exercise tolerance, and relief of angina symptoms.

A 55-Year-Old Man Arrives at the Emergency Department Complaining of Recurring