Braxton hicks contractions are termed "practice contractions" and occur throughout pregnancy. when the woman's body is getting ready to go into labor, it begins to show anticipatory signs of impending labor. among these signs are braxton hicks contractions that are more frequent and stronger in intensity. what differentiates braxton hicks contractions from true labor?
a. braxton hicks contractions cause "ripening" of the cervix. b. braxton hicks contractions usually decrease in intensity with walking. c. braxton hicks contractions do not last long enough to be true labor. d. braxton hicks contractions get closer together with activity.

A46-year-old man with a history of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia visits the physician for a routine followup. the patient's job involves a lot of travelling, and he admits to occasionally forgetting to take his medications with him when he travels. he complains of several episodes of chest pain in the past few months. the pain is sharp in nature, mainly over his lower chest and epigastrium, and tends to come on when walking. he believes these episodes are due to indigestion and has been taking antacids. there is a family history of heart disease, and his father died of a heart attack at age 48. on physical examination, his blood pressure is 150/80 mmhg and heart rate is 86/min. his lungs are clear to auscultation. cardiac auscultation reveals normal rate and rhythm, without rubs, gallops, or murmurs. there is no pedal oedema. he is sent for an exercise stress test. five minutes into the test, he develops st depression of 3mm in leads v1-v5. the st segment depression is greater than 0.12 seconds in duration and the stress test is stopped. which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management? - coronary angiography- holter monitor- no further tests are required- repeat stress test with thallium- upper gastrointestinal endoscopy