Interesting. The normal concomitant of a simple faint is described as vagal overactivity; this is supposed to lead to a slowing of
the pulse, reduced cardiac output and reduced cerebral perfusion which causes the loss of consciousness. Once the person has
collapsed, the response is variable; some patients still have a bradycardia on admission to hospital and some have returned to
normal. I can postulate a compensatory tachycardia, but I would not describe it as typical.
However, the question has a hidden and rather scary depth. She has 'fainted' on exercise. This is a known presentation of lethal
cardiac conditions in young adults such as HOCM, previously undiagnosed aortic stenosis and arrhythmogenic right ventricular
dysplasia. So the correct answer is in fact D.
Best wishes,
Rowley Cottingham
[log in to unmask]
|