F. Clinical Example
A 48-year-old male had several typical symptoms during his heart attack. He suddenly experienced a disagreeable sensation in the chest, which increased to a heavy crushing sensation over and beneath the lower part of the breastbone. During the next 10–15 minutes, the pain felt like a heavy bar across the chest and within a few minutes spread to his left arm, which felt as heavy as lead. He was not known to have angina and therefore had no nitroglycerin available. He was overcome by a strange fear with a feeling that life was going to be extinguished. At this point, his pain had lasted about 40 minutes and was moderately severe but could not be described as unbear¬able. He was sweating profusely and upon further questioning, he admitted that it was his fear that prompted him to call the ambulance. It is true that many people are afraid of a heart attack and may develop anxiety. Many individuals with pain in different parts of the body may become a little anxious, but few feel as if they are strangling, and this sensation seems to produce great fear and anxiety.

Страницы: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12