Which symptom indicates myocardial ischemia at rest?

• A. Abdominal pain after meals
• B. Bilateral leg edema
• C. Chest pain at rest
• D. Productive cough

Answer: (C)

Myocardial ischemia at rest is suggested when chest pain occurs without physical activity. This signals that the heart muscle isn’t receiving enough oxygen even when the body isn’t demanding more work, which is a warning sign for unstable angina or evolving acute coronary syndrome. Chest discomfort in the chest region, sometimes described as pressure or tightness and may radiate, is the hallmark symptom of ischemia.

By comparison, abdominal pain after meals points to gastrointestinal or mesenteric issues, not heart ischemia. Bilateral leg edema suggests fluid overload or heart failure rather than ischemia. A productive cough is more typical of respiratory or infectious problems, not myocardial ischemia. So resting chest pain best indicates ischemia occurring at rest.