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Having a pain in your chest can be scary. It does not always mean that you are having a heart attack. There can be many other causes, including

Some of these problems can be serious. Get immediate medical care if you have chest pain that does not go away, crushing pain or pressure in the chest, or chest pain along with nausea, sweating, dizziness or shortness of breath. Treatment depends on the cause of the pain.

Symptoms of Chest Pain

The following features are indicative of Chest Pain:
  • pressure, fullness or tightness in the chest
  • shortness of breath
  • cold sweats
  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • vomiting
It is possible that Chest Pain shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Chest Pain

The following are the most common causes of Chest Pain:
  • heart attack
  • aortic dissection
  • pericarditis
  • heartburn

Other Causes of Chest Pain

The following are the less common causes of Chest Pain:
  • swallowing disorders
  • gallbladder inflammation
  • pancreatic inflammation
  • costochondritis
  • pulmonary embolism
  • collapsed lung
  • shingles

Risk Factors for Chest Pain

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Chest Pain:
  • family history of heart disease
  • smoking habit
  • cocaine use
  • overweight
  • high cholesterol
  • high blood pressure
  • diabetes

Prevention of Chest Pain

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Chest Pain. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • do not smoke
  • avoid secondhand smoke
  • follow a healthy diet
  • be physically active
  • maintain a healthy weight
  • learn ways to handle stress

Occurrence of Chest Pain

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Chest Pain cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Chest Pain most commonly occurs in the following age group:
  • Aged > 50 years

Common Gender

Chest Pain can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Chest Pain

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Chest Pain:
  • Electrocardiogram: To record the electrical activity of the heart
  • Blood tests: To check the increased levels of certain enzymes
  • Chest X-ray: To check the size and shape of the heart and major blood vessels
  • Computerized tomography: To look for a blood clot in the lung

Doctor for Diagnosis of Chest Pain

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Chest Pain:
  • Cardiologist

Complications of Chest Pain if untreated

Yes, Chest Pain causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Chest Pain is left untreated:
  • can be fatal

Procedures for Treatment of Chest Pain

The following procedures are used to treat Chest Pain:
  • Angioplasty and stenting: Improves blood flow in the heart and eliminates or reduces angina
  • Coronary artery bypass surgery: Increases blood flow to the heart and eliminates or reduces angina

Self-care for Chest Pain

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Chest Pain:
  • Quit smoking
  • Eat healthy diet: Eat a healthy diet which includes fruits, vegetables and whole grains
  • Maintain weight: Maintain or lose your weight
  • Avoid large meals: Eat food in small quantity to prevent fullness
  • Exercise regularly

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Chest Pain

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Chest Pain:
  • Enhanced External Counterpulsation Therapy: Improves oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart muscle
  • Physical therapy: Increases the strength, flexibility, balance and coordination
  • Occupational therapy: Improves the functional abilities

Patient Support for Treatment of Chest Pain

The following actions may help Chest Pain patients:
  • Join support groups: Provides medical knowledge and care about the disease

Time for Treatment of Chest Pain

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Chest Pain to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • Within 1 day

Related Topics

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 1/12/2021.
This page provides information for Chest Pain.

Related Topics

Angina
Heartburn

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