New York State Basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) Practice Exam

What symptoms could indicate a heart attack in a 58-year-old man who develops chest pain and shortness of breath while lifting heavy objects?

1. Hiatal hernia

2. Heat exhaustion

3. Fatigue

4. Heart attack

The correct answer is: Heart attack

The symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath in a 58-year-old man, especially while engaging in strenuous activity like lifting heavy objects, are classic indicators of a heart attack. In this scenario, the combination of chest pain and difficulty breathing raises significant concern for a cardiovascular event. A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, often due to a blood clot. This obstruction can result in damage to the heart muscle, leading to symptoms such as chest pain (which may be described as pressure, squeezing, or a feeling of fullness) and respiratory distress hard to ignore during physical exertion. While the other options might present with some symptoms that overlap with what one may experience, they do not directly connect to the acute and serious nature of a heart attack. For example, a hiatal hernia primarily causes gastrointestinal symptoms, heat exhaustion typically arises from prolonged exposure to heat and might present with symptoms like heavy sweating and weakness, and fatigue while may be a symptom of various conditions lacks the immediacy and danger associated with this critical cardiovascular issue. Therefore, given the context, identifying a heart attack as the cause of these specific symptoms is a key understanding in emergency medical situations.