A patient admitted with the diagnosis of possible myocardial infarction complains of pain and tingling in the left arm and says, "How in the world could I be having a heart attack when it's just my arm that is giving me trouble?" What type of pain should the nurse explain that the patient is experiencing?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient is experiencing referred pain, which is commonly felt in the left arm during a heart attack. The pain is referred from the heart to the arm due to shared nerve pathways.

A Patient Admitted with the Diagnosis of Possible Myocardial Infarction