What it means
A gesture clients often make, without being asked, when describing chest pain as pressure, squeezing or tightness. It is a classic sign of pain from lack of blood flow to the heart, as in anginaan-JY-nuhChest pain or pressure that happens when the heart muscle does not get enough blood and oxygen.Full entry or a myocardial infarctionmy-oh-KAR-dee-ul in-FARK-shunDeath of part of the heart muscle because its blood supply is blocked; a heart attack.my/o musclecardi/o heart-al having to do withinfarct area of dead tissueFull entry . It is named after Samuel Levine, an American cardiologist.
For the nurse
Treat it as possible cardiac chest pain: stay with the client, get vital signs and an ECG, and follow the chest pain protocol.
At a glance
| Also written | Levine's sign |
|---|
Related terms
myocardial infarction
Death of part of the heart muscle because its blood supply is blocked; a heart attack.
angina
Chest pain or pressure that happens when the heart muscle does not get enough blood and oxygen.