Health Management for Older Adults III - Early Evaluation of Patients with Chest Pain -- The Story

< i > Early Evaluation of Patients with Chest Pain -- The Story

In addition if that patient is male and is older rather than younger, has hypertension, diabetes, and is a smoker with hyperlipidemia, the odds are becoming very high that myocardial ischemia or infarction is the source of the patient's chest pain. The odds become higher still if the patient has had a previous coronary angioplasty.

In contrast, if the patient presents with a story of sharp, stabbing, chest discomfort not related to effort, not prolonged and not relieved by nitroglycerin and is a young female with no risk factors, not taking contraceptives, the odds are quite good that this patient does not have ischemic cardiac pain or myocardial infarction.