National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

A patient in cardiac rehab begins to complain of chest pains and shortness of breath. Which medication is most appropriate for these symptoms?

1. Angiotensin receptor blocker

2. Thrombolytic agent

3. Nitrates

4. Vasodilator

The correct answer is: Nitrates

Nitrates are commonly used to relieve chest pain and shortness of breath, especially in patients experiencing angina or other cardiac-related symptoms. They work by dilating blood vessels, which increases blood flow to the heart muscle and reduces the heart's oxygen demand. This can effectively alleviate the discomfort associated with chest pain, making nitrates the most appropriate choice in this scenario. While angiotensin receptor blockers help manage blood pressure and heart failure over the long term, they would not provide immediate relief for acute symptoms like chest pain. Thrombolytic agents are generally used to dissolve blood clots in cases of a heart attack, rather than for immediate symptom relief in non-clot-related chest discomfort. Vasodilators do provide similar effects to nitrates by relaxing blood vessels, but nitrates are specifically indicated for acute relief of chest pain and are typically quicker acting and more commonly recognized for this purpose.