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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Diseases & Conditions

Chest Pain Quiz: Spot the Heart Attack Signs

Ready to tackle chest pain questions? Start the symptoms test now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art style heart chest pain quiz banner with symptom icons and emergency signs on dark blue background

This chest pain quiz helps you spot heart attack symptoms and decide when to call for help. Work through short, real-life cases to sort harmless aches from danger and practice the first steps to take. Not sure if stress is at play? Try the heart attack vs anxiety quiz , then explore Do I have a heart problem?

What is the most common symptom of a heart attack?
Headache
Leg cramps
Abdominal bloating
Chest pain or discomfort
Chest pain or discomfort is the hallmark symptom of myocardial infarction and is present in most patients experiencing a heart attack. It is often described as pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of the chest. Other symptoms like headache or leg cramps are not typical presenting features of cardiac ischemia.
Which of the following is NOT a typical symptom of a heart attack?
Nausea or vomiting
Shortness of breath
Leg cramps
Cold sweat
Typical heart attack symptoms include cold sweats, shortness of breath, and sometimes nausea or vomiting, but leg cramps are not associated with cardiac events. Chest discomfort is the most recognized symptom, though presentations can vary. Leg cramps are more indicative of musculoskeletal or vascular issues in the extremities.
Which group of people is more likely to experience atypical heart attack symptoms such as nausea and fatigue?
Teenagers
Children
Men
Women
Women often present with atypical symptoms during a heart attack, including nausea, fatigue, and back or jaw pain, rather than classic chest pain. This can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Men more commonly report chest discomfort when experiencing myocardial infarction.
What is the first action you should take if you suspect someone is having a heart attack?
Call emergency services (e.g., 911)
Give over-the-counter painkillers
Drive the person to the hospital yourself
Wait to see if the pain goes away
If you suspect a heart attack, the first step is to call emergency services immediately to ensure rapid medical attention and potential pre-hospital interventions. Delaying care by waiting or self-transport can worsen outcomes. Over-the-counter painkillers do not treat the underlying cardiac issue and could mask important symptoms.
Radiating pain from chest to which location is common during a heart attack?
Abdomen
Right leg
Left arm
Lower back
During a heart attack, pain or discomfort often radiates from the chest to the left arm, shoulder, neck, or jaw due to shared neural pathways. This referral pattern is a classic sign of myocardial ischemia. Radiation to the right leg, lower back, or abdomen is not typically associated with heart attacks.
Chest discomfort lasting longer than how many minutes is a red flag for myocardial infarction?
5 minutes
2 minutes
20 minutes
60 minutes
Chest discomfort that persists for more than 20 minutes is concerning for a heart attack, as angina pectoris usually resolves within a few minutes. Persistent pain suggests myocardial tissue damage. While longer durations like 60 minutes are also concerning, the 20-minute threshold is commonly used to differentiate angina from infarction.
What is the initial recommended dose of aspirin for a suspected heart attack?
100 mg swallowed
325 mg chewed
81 mg swallowed
500 mg chewed
Aspirin at a dose of 325 mg chewed immediately is recommended to inhibit platelet aggregation and reduce clot propagation in suspected heart attack cases. Chewing allows for faster absorption compared to swallowing tablets. Lower doses like 81 mg are used for maintenance but are insufficient acutely.
In an electrocardiogram, which finding is most indicative of an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)?
Diffuse T wave inversions
ST segment elevation
Prolonged QT interval
Sinus bradycardia
ST segment elevation in contiguous leads on ECG is the hallmark of an acute STEMI, reflecting transmural myocardial ischemia. QT prolongation, T wave inversions, and bradycardia can occur in various cardiac and non-cardiac conditions but are not specific for STEMI. Prompt identification of ST elevation guides reperfusion therapy decisions.
Which cardiac biomarker is most specific for myocardial necrosis and remains elevated the longest after an acute MI?
Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB)
Myoglobin
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
Troponin I
Cardiac troponins I and T are highly specific for myocardial necrosis and remain elevated for up to 10 days post-infarction, making them essential for both diagnosis and late detection of MI. Myoglobin rises earlier but lacks specificity, while CK-MB and LDH have shorter elevation windows and lower specificity. Troponin levels correlate well with infarct size and prognosis.
Chest pain occurring at rest for more than 20 minutes, new in onset within the last 2 weeks, and severe in intensity is classified as what type of angina?
Stable angina
Variant (Prinzmetal's) angina
Unstable angina
Microvascular angina
Unstable angina presents with sudden, severe chest pain at rest or with minimal exertion and represents an acute coronary syndrome requiring urgent evaluation. Stable angina is predictable and exercise-related, while variant angina is due to coronary vasospasm. Microvascular angina involves small vessel dysfunction and often has less severe presentations.
Which clinical sign is most indicative of cardiogenic shock during an acute MI?
Mild headache
Bradycardia with warm extremities
Systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg with signs of poor perfusion
Elevated urine output
Cardiogenic shock is characterized by inadequate cardiac output leading to hypotension (systolic BP <90 mm Hg) and signs of organ hypoperfusion such as cold, clammy skin and oliguria. Elevated urine output and warm extremities are inconsistent with shock. Headache is unrelated to cardiac output status.
Which of the following patients should NOT receive sublingual nitroglycerin for chest pain?
A patient who took erectile dysfunction medication 72 hours ago
A patient with a history of migraine headache
A patient with systolic blood pressure of 85 mm Hg
A patient with stable angina and BP 120/80 mm Hg
Sublingual nitroglycerin causes vasodilation and can precipitate severe hypotension; it is contraindicated when systolic BP is below 90 mm Hg. Patients with stable blood pressure, history of migraine, or remote use of ED medication (72+ hours) can typically receive nitrates. Always assess for hypotension prior to administration.
ST-segment depression in leads V1 to V3 on an ECG during acute chest pain most likely indicates occlusion of which coronary artery?
Obtuse marginal artery
Left anterior descending artery
Left circumflex artery
Right coronary artery
ST-segment depression in V1 to V3 can represent reciprocal changes from a posterior myocardial infarction, most commonly due to occlusion of the right coronary artery supplying the posterior wall. This pattern helps localize the MI and guide revascularization. LAD occlusion typically produces anterior ST elevation rather than isolated depression.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recognize Typical Heart Attack Symptoms -

    By engaging with this chest pain quiz, learn to pinpoint classic myocardial infarction signs such as crushing pressure, arm or jaw radiation, and associated sweating to enhance early detection.

  2. Identify Atypical Chest Pain Presentations -

    Analyze less common heart attack symptoms like epigastric discomfort, fatigue, or nausea to ensure you don't miss subtle warning signals in diverse patient profiles.

  3. Distinguish Cardiac from Non-Cardiac Chest Discomfort -

    Differentiate true cardiac events from musculoskeletal or gastrointestinal chest pain scenarios through focused chest pain questions and situational clues.

  4. Apply Emergency Response Principles -

    Use knowledge gained to determine when to activate emergency services and initiate life-saving protocols based on chest pain symptoms test criteria.

  5. Evaluate Severity and Priority of Chest Pain Cases -

    Assess risk factors and symptom intensity to prioritize cases effectively in clinical or simulated environments.

  6. Reinforce Learning through Self-Assessment -

    Utilize immediate feedback from this heart attack symptoms quiz to solidify your understanding and track your progress over time.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Typical vs Atypical Chest Pain -

    Understanding the difference between classical angina (pressure-like, exertional pain relieved by rest) and atypical chest pain (epigastric discomfort, jaw pain, or unexplained dyspnea) is crucial. Studies from the American Heart Association highlight that women and elderly patients often present atypically. Use the mnemonic "PQRST" (Provocation, Quality, Region, Severity, Time) to systematically assess symptoms.

  2. Key Risk Factors & Epidemiology -

    Familiarize yourself with major risk factors - hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, diabetes - as outlined by the Mayo Clinic. Remember "H2LS-D" (Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, Lifestyle [smoking], Sugar [diabetes], Diet) to recall the top five. Epidemiologic data show a sharp rise in myocardial infarction incidence in patients over 45, so age is a non-modifiable but important factor.

  3. ECG Changes & Mnemonics -

    Early recognition of ST-segment elevation, T-wave inversions, and new Q-waves can save lives. The "STEPS" mnemonic (ST Elevation, Pathologic Q waves, ST Depression, T Inversion, S segment shifts) helps you remember key changes. For example, ≥1 mm ST elevation in two contiguous leads strongly suggests acute myocardial injury (Circulation Journal, 2020).

  4. Cardiac Biomarkers Timeline -

    Troponin I/T and CK-MB levels rise and fall in predictable patterns: troponin begins elevating 3 - 4 hours post-infarct, peaks at 24 hours, and remains elevated up to two weeks. CK-MB peaks around 24 hours and returns to baseline by 72 hours (Journal of the American College of Cardiology). A quick chart or timeline diagram is invaluable for any chest pain symptoms test.

  5. Immediate Management & MONA -

    The "MONA" protocol (Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin) remains a foundational emergency response, per ACLS guidelines. Administer 325 mg aspirin chewable immediately unless contraindicated, and assess hemodynamics before nitrates. Prompt recognition in a chest pain quiz scenario can translate directly to faster in-field care.

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