Paul is a 20-year-old college athlete who is coming in for his sports physical. He mentions to you that he had some "pain in his left pec" when he woke up this morning. He says he has been working out for 5 days in a row and wonders if he pulled a muscle. What should you do?
A)Pass his physical, tell him he is right, and tell him to give his upper body a rest for the next few days.
B)Do an EKG and send him to a cardiologist for a consult.
C)Tell him he might have heartburn and to try an over the counter antacid.
D)Send the patient to the Emergency Room for an immediate work-up to see if he is having a heart attack.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Young men who are physically fit and complaining of chest pain should be assessed for cardiac risk factors such as a myocardial infarction (MI), as some causes of MI or heart attacks are based on family history and not as much upon the person's lifestyle. Passing off this symptom as muscle pain or heart burn without proper testing could lead to the man having an MI or stroke. Keep in mind, however, that sending him immediately to the Emergency Room for evaluation may be a cause for stress and alarm, which is not in the best interest of the patient. Most practices should have an EKG machine. The patient should have an EKG. If the EKG is normal, send the patient for a cardiac consult just to ensure his heart is physically fit. Of course, if the EKG is abnormal or if he shows any other significant signs of an MI, the patient should be immediately sent to the ER.

Paul Is a 20-Year-Old College Athlete Who Is Coming in for His