48 year old Jason Dixon had not been feeling well all day and around 10:00 p.m he went to bed.  At around 4:00 a.m. his wife awakened to see him slump to the floor, breathing with difficulty and drenched in perspiration.  Alarmed when he told her of the pain in his chest, neck and arm, she called 911.  Within 12 minutes, emergency response team personnel (EMTs) were on the scene. During this critical period, EMT personnel performed the standard emergency treatment protocol for a patient with symptoms of a myocardial infarction, commonly referred to as a heart attack. 

 

1.  What symptoms did Jason exhibit?

2.  If you were an emergency medical technician treating a suspected myocardial infarction (heart attack), what would you do for initial assessment of the patient?

3.  What initial treatment would you give the patient?

 

The patient carried several risk factors related to both lifestyle and family history. He was 80 lbs. over his ideal weight and worked long hours in a high stress environment as an advertising agency manager. He was also a  moderate cigarette smoker. According to his wife, he exercised very little and paid virtually no attention to diet, often eating fast food, as well as eating late at night.  His father died at age 56 from heart disease.

 

4.  Summarize the lifestyle risks of the patient.