Question

Explain in detail what you would do in each of the following situations. You may have to do additional research in order to answer the questions appropriately.

3. Steve Williams complains of severe indigestion, squeezing pain in his chest, and pain going down his left arm. He is short of breath and perspiring profusely.

The question is asking what should you do as a Medical Assistant to help the patient in the office.

Answer 1

Mr Steve Williamson is suspected to have a heart attack along with angina as per the signs and symptoms arised.

severe indigestion

It also has a similar signs of heart attack. It can also cause chest pain.

squeezing pain in his chest

It is the most common sign of a heart attack. It can be described better as an "excruciating pain".

Pain on left arm

It is the best known symptom of a heart attack. Pain occur because the arteries that connects from the heart and those comes from the left arm send signals to the same brain cells.

short of breath and perspiring profusely.

Short of breath is due to the heaviness and pain on chest and decreased level of oxygen in blood.

Profuse sweating when you have no fever or when you are not exerting is a clear sign of a heart attack.

What should you do as a medical assistant to help the patient

• Call 911 or a known emergency number
• Chew and swallow aspirin tablet if the patient is non allergic to it
• Give nitroglycerin-use only the one which is specifically prescribed for the patient.
• Start CPR if the patient fall unconscious
• Leave the patient on the floor with knees bent and head and sholders supported
• Loosen all tight clothings
• Do not wait to see if symptoms disappear.