Mr. JO is a 54 y/o male with a 10 year history of HTN and a 30 pack year
history of smoking who presents to your clinic with occasional substernal chest
pain while tossing baseball with his grandson. These episodes seem to occur when
he is tossing the ball for longer periods of time, but the pain goes away after
he stops exerting himself. He has never had this pain before, and he admits to
being “out of shape.” He states that he occasionally has shortness of breath
with the chest pain, but he denies any other associated symptoms. The chest pain
does not radiate. He is worried that the pain could be his heart because “my dad
died before he was 50 from a heart attack.” He is currently without any pain.
His medical history is unremarkable except as noted above. He is married with
three children and 7 grandchildren. He denies any alcohol use. His only
medication is Atenolol 50mg, once daily. He admits that he seldom takes it.
On PE, his Vital Signs are as follows: P 100, RR 18, BP 160/90, T 37.2C
His HEENT is normal; there is no elevation of JVP. His lung and abdominal exam
are normal with the exception of obesity. His heart exam is notable for an S4.
There are no bruits and no edema on peripheral vascular exam. His
musculoskeletal exam is normal as well. He asks you, “Doc, am I going to have a
heart attack?”