A 55-year-old male with a known history of high cholesterol presents with sudden, severe chest pain radiating to the left arm. He also appears pale and is sweating profusely. What are the immediate steps in his management?
This patient's symptoms are suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), potentially a myocardial infarction (heart attack), which can be associated with high cholesterol. Immediate steps include administering aspirin and nitroglycerin, obtaining an EKG to diagnose the type of MI, and performing blood tests including cardiac enzymes. This is a medical emergency and needs immediate intervention, possibly including coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or thrombolysis, depending on the nature and timing of the symptoms.