1. Know the Causes of Chest Pain
There is a long list of potentially life-threatening causes of chest pain. As a result, it can even be difficult for a physician to determine the exact origin of the chest pain. Therefore, it is essential that you seek medical care if you experience chest pain, especially if these symptoms are new or unusual. Potential life-threatening causes include a heart attack, angina, aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism or drug-induced chest pain.
2. Know the Symptoms of a Heart Attack
While there are many causes of chest pain, it can be difficult to distinguish between their various origins. A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, does not always result in chest pain. The classic presentation of pain around the area of the chest wall is common, but it is important to know that there are a variety of other potential sources. Pain may also arise in the back, neck, arms, jaw or shoulders. You may also experience abdominal discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, sweating, dizziness or heartburn.
Other causes that are not immediately life threatening include heart valve dysfunction, acid reflux, pneumonia, herpes zoster and costochondritis, among other things. Additionally, post-exercise pectoral muscle soreness is common non-life-threatening cause of chest pain.
3. Know Your Risk Factors for Heart Attack
A heart attack may be caused by coronary artery disease. Knowledge of your risk factors will provide you with awareness of the probability of a build up of cholesterol in the coronary arteries, blood clots, or spasms of the vessels that supply the heart. These risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, significant family history and drug abuse.
4. Determine if Your Symptoms Are Angina
The symptoms of angina are similar to those of a heart attack, but angina symptoms occur with physical activity or exercise. Angina usually subsides at rest, but can be life threatening when this pain does occur at rest or has increased in frequency or intensity. Angina at rest is considered to be unstable angina and should be assessed by a physician. Symptoms vary from person to person. For this reason, it is advisable to seek medical care for most types of chest pain.
5. Know When to Seek Medical Care
If you experience chest pain, call your doctor or 911. Since a variety of causes of chest pain exist, it is essential to seek medical care quickly. The longer you wait to seek care, the more damage may occur to the heart tissue. If you are alone, do not attempt to drive yourself to the local hospital, instead call your local 911 operator.
