Advice on Chest Pain

How about chest pain
( 8 Jun 2007)

Chest pain is a symptom of many kinds of medical problems and not just heart attacks. It is important to understand this to avoid going into a panic when a loved one is experiencing chest pain. Chest pain is a pretty vague description of any pain, tightness, choking, squeezing, or numbness that occurs in the chest, neck, shoulders, or anywhere in the upper part of the trunk.

Treatment for chest pain can start only after a chest pain diagnosis establishes the source of the pain and the organ affected. Causes for the discomfort or pain in the chest could be related to the heart and its blood vessels, the lungs or organs in the digestive system such as the esophagus, stomach, pancreas or the gall bladder.

Evidently, immediate treatment for chest pain becomes crucial in any one of these life threatening conditions such as a heart attack, angina, a tear in the inner lining of the aorta, which is a major artery, blood clots in major blood vessels, a collapsed lung, and a perforated viscus. However, there are some other situations where chest pain may not indicate a threat to life. For instance, common causes of chest pain that is not life threatening are gastro-intestinal tract disorders such as acid reflux, esophagitis, spasms of the esophagus, gall bladder attacks, peptic ulcers, and so on. Inflammation of the pericardium, a protect layer surround the heart can lead to chest pain. Pleurisy, caused by an inflammation of the linings of the lung and accumulation of fluid between the two linings, can result in chest pain, and the pain may become more severe with breathing. Pneumonia, herpes zoster or shingles, and even anxiety and depression have been known to cause pain and discomfort in the chest.

Chest pain signs and symptoms that indicate a heart attack include pain on the left side that may spread to the shoulder, arm, jaw, and the back along with nausea, vomiting, profuse sweating, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Treatment for chest pain at a medical center or emergency room with a cardiologist should be started as soon as possible within the hour to ensure minimal damage to the heart muscle. Since time is the essence in case of heart attacks, it is best to seek medical help in case you experience chest pain and let the doctor evaluate whether or not your condition is life threatening. Even though we may be aware of the common causes of chest pain in children and women, we should make sure these causes are not neglected. Chest pain in children with bronchitis or pneumonia can be worrisome and a pediatrician must be consulted to rule out other complications. Coughing, shortness of breath, fever, a sharp pain in the chest while breathing, and tenderness in the chest could all be symptoms of various problems like penumothorax, pleurisy, costochodritis, or bronchiolitis, which need urgent medical attention. Chest pain in women also needs careful supervision and a proper diagnosis.

In case of heart attacks, chest pain remedies that one can initiate at home while waiting for an ambulance or medical help include chewing an aspirin tablet. If the person is known to have angina pain caused by narrowing of arteries, placing a nitroglycerin tablet below the tongue will help relieve some of the pain. Those with gastro-intestinal problems like acid reflux or ulcers may feel some relief after swallowing antacids, but it is best to get the condition evaluated in an emergency room and get appropriate medication and treatment for chest pain.

Heart healthy lifestyle changes that include balanced meals and adequate exercise can serve to reduce instances of chest pain even for those whose pain is related to problems in the digestive system. Quitting smoking and reducing or avoiding alcohol consumption can go a long way towards enjoying a life free of chest pain.

answered by G M on 21 Mar 2011, 11:45:01

Your query seems to be incomplete. Chest pain can be a result of acid reflux, cardiac problem, heartburn or peptic ulcer.

answered by r k on 11 Jun 2007, 11:11:33

Advice on Chest Pain

How about chest pain ( 8 Jun 2007)

How about chest pain
( 8 Jun 2007)