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Chest Pain OverviewThe most feared cause of chest pain is heart attack. But there are also other non-emergent causes of chest pain that can be mistaken for heart attack symptoms. The purpose of this overview is to educate the patient as to all of the causes of chest pain that he or she might experience. The chest cavity has many organs that are right next to each other. There is the food pipe (esophagus), the wind pipe (trachea), both lungs, the heart, the great vessels leading out of the heart, and multiple lymph nodes. Because there are so many organs that are supplied by a multitude of pain sensing nerves, any of these structures located in the chest can cause chest pain symptoms. That is why it is so difficult to differentiate non-emergencies from emergencies when it comes to chest pain. Another issue is that true heart attacks can present and cause many different symptoms. A heart attack can present as excruciating chest pain, but also jaw pain and neck pain. It can present as moderate chest discomfort and even numbness in the jaw and arm. That is why it is best to always consult with a medical professional. No two bodies are the same, and thus medical help is needed to truly figure out the cause of your chest pain. If you are having chest pain and think it is a heart attack always call 911. If you have further questions about chest pain call our office number now.
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Chest Pain: Non-emergencies |
Acid Reflux: This is a classic case where there is mixed confusion about whether this is pain caused by a heart attack or by acid reflux. Acid reflux is caused due to the closeness of the stomach to the food pipe. Your stomach is an organ used to digest food using acidic contents contain within it called chime. It is connected to your food pipe and ultimately your mouth. If this acid bubbles and refluxes backwards into the food pipe it can cause burning sensations and pain in the chest area where your food pipe is located. This is often mistaken for heart attacks due to the pressure and chest burning that ensues. Frequently the type of patients who are eating foods that can cause reflux are also the same patients most likely to have heart attacks. In short, you will need much more than symptoms and the patients story in order to tell the difference between heart attacks and acid reflux. The patient will need to seek doctor consultation to get further laboratory testing and confirmation that they in fact did not have a heart attack. If you think you are having a heart attack call 911 immediately. If you have more questions about chest pain call our office number now.
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Chest Pain Emergencies |
Heart attacks: Heart attacks have a classic presentation with classic symptoms: chest pain, nausea, vomiting, sweating, with radiation of pain to the arm or the jaw. Heart attacks are due to blockages in the arteries that supply the heart. The heart needs blood supply to run. It is like gasoline for the heart. The heart needs nutrients and oxygen just like any other part of the body. When deprived of this oxygen the heart will suffocate and die. Because your heart is such a crucial organ that delivers most of the oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body, without your heart, your body will also die. That is why it is so important to keep your heart healthy. Things that make people most likely to have heart attacks include high blood pressure, and a poor diet. Older age can also make it more likely for a person to have heart attacks. Typically over the age of 50 we can expect a high incidence of heart attacks.
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