Question

A 53-year-old man has shortness of breath, chest discomfort, and weakness. The patient's blood pressure is 102/59 mm Hg, the heart rate is 230/min, the respiratory rate is 16 breaths/min, and the pulse oximetry reading is 96. What is the most likely diagnosis for this patient?

1) Asthma
2) Heart attack
3) Pneumonia
4) Anemia

Answer 1

Given the symptoms of shortness of breath, chest discomfort, weakness, and the vital signs of the patient, the most likely diagnosis is a heart attack. Option 2 is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The 53-year-old man presents with shortness of breath, chest discomfort, weakness, a blood pressure of 102/59 mm Hg, an extremely high heart rate of 230/min, a normal respiratory rate, and a near-normal pulse oximetry reading of 96. The high heart rate, termed tachycardia, in the presence of these symptoms, strongly suggests that he could be suffering from a heart-related issue.

Considering the options provided, the most likely diagnosis for this patient is a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Asthma, pneumonia, and anemia can cause similar symptoms, but a heart rate of 230/min is more consistent with a cardiac etiology rather than these conditions.