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Overview
Chest pain and heart attack
Chest discomfort or pain may be a key warning symptom of a heart attack. Heart attack symptoms may include:
- Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest.
- Sweating.
- Shortness of breath.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly, or in one or both shoulders or arms.
- Lightheadedness or sudden weakness.
- A fast or irregular heartbeat.
Chest discomfort or pain that comes on or gets worse with exercise, stress, or eating a large meal and goes away with rest may also be a heart disease symptom called angina.
If you have any of these symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 or other emergency services now. After you call 911, the operator may tell you to chew 1 adult-strength or 2 to 4 low-dose aspirin. Wait for an ambulance. Do not try to drive yourself. Since most of the damage to the heart muscle during a heart attack occurs in the first 6 hours, emergency treatment may prevent damage to the heart muscle and death. For men and women, the most common symptom is chest pain or pressure. Women are somewhat more likely than men to have other symptoms like shortness of breath, tiredness, nausea, and back or jaw pain.
Other causes of chest discomfort or pain
Most people fear that chest pain always means that something is wrong with the heart. This isn't the case. Chest discomfort or pain, especially in people who are younger than age 40, can have many causes.
- Angina (say "ANN-juh-nuh" or "ann-JY-nuh") is a type of chest pain or discomfort that happens when there isn't enough blood flow to the heart muscle. It's a symptom of coronary artery disease, also called heart disease. Angina is called stable angina when you can usually predict when your symptoms will happen. You probably know what things cause your angina. A sudden and unexpected change in your usual pattern of angina means that the blood flow has become more impaired and you could be having a heart attack. This is called unstable angina.
- Pain in the muscles or bones of the chest often occurs when you increase your activities or add exercise to your schedule. This is sometimes called chest wall pain.
- Costochondritis is an inflammation of the joints formed by the cartilage connecting the ribs to the breastbone (sternum). It could be caused by an injury to the chest. But often the reason for the inflammation isn't known.
- Burning chest pain that occurs when you cough may be from an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus.
- Burning chest or rib pain, especially just before a rash appears, may be caused by shingles.
- An injury such as a broken rib or bruised lung can be quite painful. The pain may be worse when you cough or try to take a deep breath.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the thin layers of tissue (pleura) covering the lungs and the chest wall may occur. This is called pleurisy.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause pain just below the breastbone. Many people will say that they have "heartburn." You can usually relieve this pain by taking an antacid or eating.
Other more serious problems that can cause chest pain include:
- An infection, such as pneumonia.
- A collapsed lung (pneumothorax). This usually causes a sharp, stabbing chest pain and occurs with shortness of breath.
- A blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism). It usually causes deep chest pain with sudden and extreme shortness of breath.
- Lung cancer. It may cause chest pain, especially if the cancer cells spread to involve the ribs.
- Diseases of the spine. It can cause chest pain if the nerves in the spine are "pinched."
Check Your Symptoms
The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.
- If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
- If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
- If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as "male" and once as "female"). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.
Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:
- Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
- Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
- Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.
- Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
- Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.
Try Home Treatment
You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.
- Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
- Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.
Pain in adults and older children
- Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain.
- Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there.
- Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.
Severe trouble breathing means:
- You cannot talk at all.
- You have to work very hard to breathe.
- You feel like you can't get enough air.
- You do not feel alert or cannot think clearly.
Moderate trouble breathing means:
- It's hard to talk in full sentences.
- It's hard to breathe with activity.
Mild trouble breathing means:
- You feel a little out of breath but can still talk.
- It's becoming hard to breathe with activity.
Shock is a life-threatening condition that may quickly occur after a sudden illness or injury.
Adults and older children often have several symptoms of shock. These include:
- Passing out (losing consciousness).
- Feeling very dizzy or lightheaded, like you may pass out.
- Feeling very weak or having trouble standing.
- Not feeling alert or able to think clearly. You may be confused, restless, fearful, or unable to respond to questions.
Shock is a life-threatening condition that may occur quickly after a sudden illness or injury.
Babies and young children often have several symptoms of shock. These include:
- Passing out (losing consciousness).
- Being very sleepy or hard to wake up.
- Not responding when being touched or talked to.
- Breathing much faster than usual.
- Acting confused. The child may not know where he or she is.
Symptoms of a heart attack may include:
- Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest.
- Sweating.
- Shortness of breath.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly, or in one or both shoulders or arms.
- Lightheadedness or sudden weakness.
- A fast or irregular heartbeat.
For men and women, the most common symptom is chest pain or pressure. But women are somewhat more likely than men to have other symptoms like shortness of breath, tiredness, nausea, and back or jaw pain.
Seek Care Today
Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.
- Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
- If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today.
- If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
- If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.
Make an Appointment
Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care.
- Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks.
- If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment.
- If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. You may need care sooner.
Seek Care Now
Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.
- Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
- If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour.
- You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
- You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
- You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.
Call 911 Now
Based on your answers, you need emergency care.
Call 911 or other emergency services now.
Sometimes people don't want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.
Call 911 Now
Based on your answers, you need emergency care.
Call 911 or other emergency services now.
After you call 911, the operator may tell you to chew 1 adult-strength (325 mg) or 2 to 4 low-dose (81 mg) aspirin. Wait for an ambulance. Do not try to drive yourself.
Sometimes people don't want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.
Self-Care
Home treatment is not appropriate for chest pain if the pain occurs with symptoms of a heart attack. If you think a heart attack might be the cause of your symptoms, call 911 or other emergency services now. After you call 911, the operator may tell you to chew 1 adult-strength or 2 to 4 low-dose aspirin. Wait for an ambulance. Do not try to drive yourself.
If you have stable angina, you can probably predict when your symptoms will happen. You probably know what things cause your angina. If you and your doctor have made a home treatment plan, follow that plan. If you are having angina symptoms more often than usual or if they are different or worse than usual, call your doctor right away. If you have angina symptoms that don't go away with rest or aren't getting better within 5 minutes after you take a dose of nitroglycerin, call 911 or other emergency services now.
Home treatment for mild chest pain depends on the cause of the pain. Minor chest pain often improves with home treatment. A visit to your doctor may not be needed. Here are some ways to treat chest wall pain caused by strained muscles or ligaments or a fractured rib at home.
- Get some rest.
Rest and protect an injured or sore area. Stop, change, or take a break from any activity that may be causing your pain or soreness.
- Ice the area.
Cold will reduce pain and swelling. Apply an ice or cold pack right away to prevent or have less swelling. Apply the ice or cold pack for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 or more times a day. After 48 to 72 hours, if swelling is gone, apply warmth to the area that hurts.
- Don't use a bandage.
Don't wrap or tape your ribs for support. It could cause you to take smaller breaths, which could increase your risk for pneumonia or a partial lung collapse (atelectasis).
- Apply medicine.
Medicated creams that you put on the skin (topical) may soothe sore muscles.
- Stretch your muscles.
Gentle stretching and massage may help you get better faster. Stretch slowly to the point just before discomfort starts. Then hold the stretch for 30 to 60 seconds. Do this 3 or 4 times a day. It's even more helpful after the use of heat.
- Return to activity when you're ready.
As your pain gets better, slowly return to your normal activities. Any increased pain may mean that you need to rest a while longer.
When to call for help during self-care
Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:
- Increased difficulty breathing.
- Chest discomfort lasts longer than 1 week.
- Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.
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Credits
Current as of: July 31, 2024
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Current as of: July 31, 2024
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
