Chest Pain

Every third person had chest pain once in his /her life. A wide range of health problems can cause chest pain. Most life-threatening chest pain is because of the lungs and heart. Chest pain represents about 5% of presenting problems an emergency problem. In children, it is about 0.5%.

 

Chest pain comes in wide varieties ranging from sharp, dull, crashing and burning. It can radiate to neck, jaw, back, and arms which depends on related organ pathology. Chest pain is a life-threatening condition, so it should be considered a medical emergency.

The causes of chest pain could be cardiac or non-cardiac.

Cardiac causes:

1. Angina

2. Heart attack or myocardial infarction

3. Aortic dissection

4. Pericarditis

5. Cardiac tamponade

6. Vascular disease

7. Cardiomyopathy-

7.1 Hypertrophic

7.2 Dilated

7.3 Restricted

Non-cardiac causes:

1. Gastrointestinal cause-

a. reflux esophagitis

b. cholecystitis

c. pancreatitis

2. Pulmonary causes-

a. pleuritis

b. pneumothorax

c. pneumonia

d. pulmonary embolism

3. Musculoskeletal causes-

a. arthritis

b. muscle spasm

c. bone tumour

4. Pscyhistric causes –

a. anxiety

b. depression

What are the risk factors of chest pain?

The following can all be risk factors of chest pain: -

1. Old age

2. Smoking

3. Hypertension

4. Diabetes mellitus

5. History of coronary heart disease

6. Positive family history

7. Excessive beverage intake

What are co-existing symptoms?

It could be present with chest pain like – nausea, vomiting, dizziness, shortness of breath, anxiety, sweating.

What is the character of chest pain?

Character defines how the pain feels by the patients whether it is- stabbing, burning, aching or sharp.

The main question is that how to differentiate at your own that pain occurs in the chest is because of the cardiac or non-cardiac cause?

Cardiac pain is central and diffuse, tightness and squeezing in character. precipitated by emotion and exertion. Radiate to jaw/neck/shoulder which gets relieved by rest and drugs. Pain is associated with breathlessness.

Non-cardiac pain is peripheral and localized. Sharp and stabbing in character. Can’t be precipitated exertion or no history of radiation. It cannot be relieved by rest and drugs. relatively association is depending on the cause.

Why do we need to visit a doctor?

If you have new or unexplained chest pain, then you must consult a doctor or call for emergency medical help.

What can you do?

It is always best to consult a doctor and describe with all necessary details like: -

1. Give proper history.

2. Tell all symptoms in detail along with duration.

3. Tell medical history if present – diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease or any other

health-related issues.

4. Tell about the medication taken by the patient.

5. Tell if any family history present.

6. Tell about addiction if any- drugs, smoking, alcohol, caffeine, or any other.

How can you prevent the chest pain?

Here are some do’s and don’t if you are experiencing chest pain: -

What to do?

1. Quit smoking, alcohol or other addictive material.

2. Control blood sugar level or blood pressure.

3. Do regular exercise.

4. Keep yourself stress-free.

5. Have a balanced diet-

5.1 Green vegetables,

5.2 Omega-3 rich food (dry fruits, salmon fish, tuna fish)

5.3 Add pulses to your diet

What not to do?

1. Avoid Sedentary lifestyle

2. Avoid Oily food, junk food, meat, lamb, beef, pastries, and pickles’

Hope you find the article interesting... 

Please comment on your views and share your experiences on chest pain.

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Posted By – Saurabh Kumar Gautam