Discussion — Sleuth It: The Case with No Findings


c and possibly e. Cocaine can cause spasm (clamping down) of normal coronary arteries, block blood flow in the artery and cause a heart attack that way. Coumadin is a risk factor for bleeding into the head — but you performed the case and there was no bleeding. The part of this option that is helpful is the presence of an abnormal heart rhythm. That might be explored more to see in what way that might have been a risk factor for sudden death.

High blood pressure is a risk factor for a large heart and an abnormal rhythm — but you performed the case and the heart was normal. Family history for high cholesterol is a risk factor for high cholesterol and blockages — but you performed the case and there were no blockages. Zoloft is not commonly a drug that causes overdose.