JBL EMT Practice Exam

You are assessing a 49-year-old man who, according to his wife, experienced a sudden, severe headache and then passed out. He is unresponsive and has slow, irregular breathing. His blood pressure is 190/94 mm Hg, and his pulse rate is 50 beats/min. His wife tells you that he has hypertension and diabetes. He has MOST likely experienced:

1. a complex partial seizure.

2. a ruptured cerebral artery.

3. a stroke.

4. acute hypoglycemia.

The correct answer is: a complex partial seizure.

Based on the given information, the man is most likely experiencing a complex partial seizure. This type of seizure can present with symptoms such as loss of consciousness, irregular breathing, and slow heart rate. The high blood pressure and history of hypertension also suggest a neurological event. A ruptured cerebral artery or stroke typically present with more sudden and severe symptoms, including loss of function on one side of the body and difficulty speaking. Acute hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, would not explain the sudden onset of symptoms or the high blood pressure. Although diabetes can lead to hypoglycemia, it is less likely to occur in a 49-year-old man without other underlying health issues.