A 77-year-old male presents with generalized aches and pain.

This question is getting at a very common complication of frequent over-the-counter pain reliever use in older adults, especially NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Those medications are well known to cause gastric irritation, ulcers, and gastrointestinal bleeding , and the risk goes up with higher doses, longer use, and older age . MedlinePlus specifically warns that NSAIDs can cause ulcers, bleeding, or holes in the stomach or intestines, sometimes without much warning. ( MedlinePlus )

So on an EMT exam, the system most likely to show abnormal findings after this history is the gastrointestinal system . In practical terms, that means you would be alert for findings such as abdominal tenderness, dark or tarry stools, vomiting blood, or signs of GI bleeding . ( MedlinePlus )