Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

Which question is least relevant when obtaining a history from a patient with chest discomfort?

1. Have you ever experienced chest pain before?

2. Have you had recent surgery?

3. Have you ever been told you have low blood pressure?

4. Do you have a family history of heart disease?

The correct answer is: Have you ever been told you have low blood pressure?

When obtaining a history from a patient experiencing chest discomfort, understanding the patient's past experiences with similar symptoms is crucial, as it can provide insight into the condition's nature. Inquiring about previous episodes of chest pain helps to assess whether this could be a recurring issue or something new. Questions about recent surgery and family history of heart disease are relevant because they can indicate potential underlying health issues affecting the patient's cardiovascular system. Recent surgery may also affect their current state, depending on the involved surgical area and recovery status. Conversely, asking whether the patient has ever been told they have low blood pressure is less relevant in this context. While hypotension can contribute to a range of symptoms, it is not a common direct factor associated with acute chest discomfort when compared to the other options. Understanding the patient's history of blood pressure is important, but in the acute setting of assessing chest pain, it doesn’t provide critical information to prioritize immediate care actions or possible cardiac issues.