Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

What symptoms should lead you to suspect an acute myocardial infarction?

1. Chest pain accompanied by fever

2. Acute onset of weakness, nausea, and sweating without an obvious cause

3. Persistent cough and shortness of breath

4. Sudden headaches with visual disturbances

The correct answer is: Acute onset of weakness, nausea, and sweating without an obvious cause

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), commonly known as a heart attack, is often characterized by a variety of symptoms that can vary from one individual to another. The key symptoms to suspect an AMI typically include chest discomfort, but can also involve other systemic signs due to the heart's compromised function. The option that reflects symptoms leading to a suspicion of AMI includes acute onset of weakness, nausea, and sweating without an obvious cause. These symptoms are particularly important because they can represent the autonomic nervous system's response to cardiac stress or ischemia. The weakness indicates a potential drop in cardiac output, the nausea often stems from reduced blood flow to the gastrointestinal system, and sweating (diaphoresis) can signify the body’s stress response during a heart attack. This combination can present in patients, especially in cases when classic chest pain symptoms are not prominently displayed. While the other options depict significant medical issues, they do not align as closely with the classic presentation of an acute myocardial infarction. Chest pain accompanied by fever could suggest an infection or inflammation rather than a heart-related event. A persistent cough and shortness of breath may indicate respiratory conditions or heart failure but are not definitive for a heart attack, and sudden headaches with visual disturbances might point toward