A client is admitted to the emergency room with chest pain and a suspected diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Which test would the nurse expect the physician to order to make a definitive diagnosis of MI?

Choice B rationale

Radiating pain to the left arm is a classic symptom of a myocardial infarction (MI). This pain occurs due to the heart muscle not receiving enough oxygen, often because of a blockage in one or more coronary arteries. The pain can radiate to the left arm, jaw, neck, or back, and is a key indicator for diagnosing an MI.

Choice A rationale

Nausea and vomiting can occur during an MI but are not the most distinctive symptoms for diagnosis. They can also be associated with other conditions, making them less specific indicators of MI.

Choice C rationale

Shortness of breath is a common symptom during an MI, resulting from reduced oxygen supply to the heart. However, while it is an important clinical manifestation, it can also be associated with other cardiac or respiratory conditions.

Choice D rationale

Headache is not a typical symptom of an MI. It is less commonly associated with heart attacks and can be caused by a wide range of other factors, making it an unreliable symptom for diagnosing MI.

Choice A rationale

Alcoholism is a common cause of hypomagnesemia due to poor dietary intake, increased renal excretion, and gastrointestinal losses. Chronic alcohol consumption leads to malnutrition and loss of magnesium through the urine, contributing to low magnesium levels.

Choice B rationale

Dehydration typically leads to hemoconcentration, which can elevate, rather than decrease, magnesium levels. Thus, it is not usually associated with low magnesium levels.

Choice C rationale

Kidney failure generally causes hypermagnesemia, not hypomagnesemia, because the kidneys cannot efficiently excrete magnesium, leading to its accumulation in the blood.

Choice D rationale

Excessive magnesium intake would result in hypermagnesemia, not hypomagnesemia, as the body accumulates more magnesium than it can excrete.