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Previous Volume 331:1216-1220 November 3, 1994 Number 18 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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A previously healthy 47-year-old man presented to the emergency room after the sudden onset of cough, shortness of breath, and tightness in his chest while climbing stairs.

The first thing that occurs to me is that this man may be having acute myocardial ischemia. The chest tightness is especially suggestive of an ischemic episode. Shortness of breath and cough are not commonly major manifestations of an acute myocardial infarction, but they can be. Another diagnostic possibility is the sudden onset of a cardiac arrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular rate or ventricular tachycardia could lead to acute congestive symptoms, . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Commentary

Source Information

From the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1400 VFW Pky., West Roxbury, MA 02132, where reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Thibault.

References

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Extract | Full Text  
N Engl J Med 1995; 332:538-539, Feb 23, 1995. Correspondence

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