Chest pain does not always mean that the patient is having a heart attack. Chest pain can signal many different medical conditions including heart attacks, gas, indigestion, and even broken ribs. Chest pain can be terribly frightening and patients end up in the emergency room prematurely. When experiencing chest pain, regardless of age, race, or expectation, it is always better to be seen by an emergency physician than to neglect to receive medical attention.
Chest pain can be caused by angina (fatty acid deposits in the arteries that cause painful symptoms), heart attacks, cardiac issue that are typically not life threatening, panic attacks, heartburn, pleurisy, pulmonary embolisms, lung conditions, asthma, costochondritis, sore muscles, rib injuries, pinched nerves, swallowing disorders, gallbladder disease, shingles, or cancer. Some causes of chest pain require immediate medical attention while other causes may require little to no medical attention.
Whether the chest pain is acute and accompanied by other symptoms of a heart attack or the onset of chest pain has created a stressed patient, physicians should always rule out heart attacks at the first signs, including chest pain. X-rays and other imaging techniques, blood tests, stress tests, electrocardiogram, nuclear scan, endoscopy, and MRI imaging can give the physician an accurate view of the heart, its ability to function, and whether or not it is responsible for the chest pain. While it is possible for patients to experience a heart attack with little discomfort or even no symptoms, most cases are obvious and can be determined via patient complaints.
There are few actual complications related to chest pain, although chronic chest pain can lead to chronic distress. Chest pain can be frightening and stressful even when there has been ample reassurance from a physician and medical testing that there is no sign of cardiac problems. Regardless, some patients require a lot of reassurance before they can relax and deal with the painful symptoms in the chest rather than their fear associated with the chest pain.
Chest pain with cardiac causes may be treated as the cardiac issue demands. Aspirin therapies, nitroglycerin therapies, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin receptor enzyme inhibitors, and cardiac therapies can often relive or eliminate chest pain. Other causes can be treated with appropriate therapies. Chest pain associated with heartburn and indigestion can be terribly painful, and treatment with antacids and other treatments. Rib fracture and pinched nerves can be treated with rest and medication to treat the pain. Swallowing disorders often require minor surgery to be corrected. Most cases of chest pain can be corrected provided the cause is identified.
Chest pain can be a very difficult symptom to accurately interpret, and patients who feel they require medical treatment should seek medical treatment to their satisfaction. Chronic chest pain should be treated by a physician who can not only determine the cause but deal with the cause effectively, such as a cardiologist is needed for cardiac causes and a gastroentologist should be acquired for an intestinal or digestive problem.
Chest pain is the most common cause of emergency room visits, and in over 70% of cases, there is no evidence of a heart attack, and in 66% of cases there is no cardiac reason for the pain. Patients are still encouraged to seek out emergency medical care if they feel it is necessary.
Find out more by viewing the Human Anatomy page:
Autonomic nervous system
Circulatory system
Medication commonly used for these disease:
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Inderal is commonly used in the treatment of angina (chest pain), tremors, hypertension, disorders relating to heart rhythm, and other diseases and disorders relating to the heart and circulation. Inderal is generically prescribed as propranolol and is a more...
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Adalat is often used in its generic form, nifedipine, and is a member of the family of medications known as calcium channel blockers. Adalat is commonly used to treat chest pain and hypertension, as well as some other heart conditions. Calcium channel blo more...
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Adalat SR can be generically prescribed as nifedipine. Adalat SR is used in the treatment of hypertension and angina, as it opens and relaxes tight blood vessels creating less work for the heart to pump the blood sufficiently to meet the body’s needs. Pat more...
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Cardizem is also prescribed as diltiazem, and is commonly used in the treatment of heart rhythm disorders, angina, and hypertension. Cardizem is a calcium channel blocker and which relaxes the muscles of the heart as well as relaxes the blood vessels allo more...
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Diltiazem HCL is the generic form of medications such as Cardizem, Cartia XT, Tiazac, Dilacor XR, and Diltia XT. Diltiazem HCL is often prescribed to treat angina, hypertension, and some forms of heart rhythm disorders. Calcium channel blockers such as more...
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Lotrel is an ACE inhibitor (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor) which is commonly used in the treatment of hypertension. Lotrel can be prescribed in its generic form, amlodipine and benazepril, which in conjunction work to relax the blood vessels and more...
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Calan is commonly prescribed to assist in the treatment of hypertension, angina, and in some cases to help control irregular heart rhythms. Calan is a member of the family of medications known as calcium channel blockers, and its job is to relax the blood more...
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Pravachol is also prescribed under the generic name of pravastatin. Pravachol prevents the body from absorbing a percentage of cholesterol taken into the body. Known as a cholesterol lowering medication, it can reduce the total cholesterol in the body. Lo more...
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Ziac is in the family of medications known as beta blockers. It is commonly prescribed for patients with hypertension, high heart rates, angina, and those who have recently suffered a heart attack. It can be prescribed in its generic form, hydrochlorothia more...
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Verapamil is the generic version of several medications. It can be prescribed as Calan, Calan SR, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Verelan, and Verelan PM when using a brand name prescription. Verepamil is a member of the family of medications known as cal more...
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