Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

What is a non-pharmacological symptom of heart attack often reported?

1. Diarrhea

2. Anxiety and sense of impending doom

3. Chest tightness without pain

4. Persistent fever

The correct answer is: Anxiety and sense of impending doom

Anxiety and a sense of impending doom are recognized symptoms that can occur during a heart attack, often described by patients as a feeling that something is terribly wrong. This psychological response can manifest as actual physical symptoms and is associated with the body’s stress response to a critical health event. During a heart attack, the heart may be deprived of oxygen due to blocked blood flow, leading to multiple physiological reactions. As the body senses this threat, it can trigger intense feelings of anxiety, which may be compounded by the physiological stress of the attack itself. This sensation can be so profound that patients often describe it as a significant and immediate distress signal, possibly precedings other physical symptoms such as chest pain or tightness. While other symptoms such as diarrhea, chest tightness, or persistent fever may occur, they are not classically cited as non-pharmacological symptoms directly related to a heart attack. Instead, they may be relevant in different clinical scenarios or conditions. Therefore, the feelings of anxiety and impending doom distinctly highlight a psychological response tied closely to the acute experience of a heart attack.