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A 28-Year-Old Medical Student Comes to the Office Due to Anxiety

question 153

Multiple Choice

A 28-year-old medical student comes to the office due to anxiety and trouble concentrating. He has worked part-time as a volunteer firefighter and reports that he has been struggling to concentrate in class ever since witnessing a child who had been badly burnt pulled out of a house fire 3 weeks ago. On two occasions the patient began to sweat, shake, and have trouble breathing: "I felt like my head was spinning and had to run out of the classroom to catch my breath." He also reports having trouble sleeping, being irritable with friends and family, and occasionally feeling like he is in a dream. The patient says, "Sometimes I'll be sitting in class, and I suddenly feel like I am back in the burning house. I can smell the fire and see the child." He has missed almost half of his classes to avoid being in crowded classrooms and has recently quit his volunteer job. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Educate patients on preventive measures for respiratory conditions like atelectasis.

Interpret the importance of oxygenated blood return mechanisms in the cardiovascular system.

Deploy first aid and initial care strategies for patients with sudden respiratory or cardiovascular distress.

Understand the impact of COPD on fine motor skills and overall dexterity.

Definitions:

Pulse Deficit

The difference between the heart rate and the palpable pulse rate, which can indicate cardiac dysfunctions such as arrhythmias.

Apical

Pertaining to the tip or apex of an organ or structure, such as the apex of the heart.

Radial Pulses

The pulse felt at the wrist where the radial artery runs, commonly used to measure heart rate.

Toddler

A child aged roughly between 1 and 3 years, characterized by rapid development in mobility and cognitive skills.