Chest Pain Information
Chest pains are one of the most common ailments which bring people to Emergency Rooms. Seeking immediate medical attention may prove to be lifesaving, but the condition may not prove to be as serious as a heart attack, for example. When most people think of chest pains, they usually immediately think of a heart attack, but that is not always the case. The pain may only be related to a bad case of heartburn, for example. Chest pains should always be taken seriously. Only a doctor can really diagnose what the underlying cause may be, so that chest pain treatment may begin if needed. Delaying medical attention may only cause serious, lasting damage if the reason is related to the heart or an actual heart attack. In the case of a heart attack, the longer the heart goes without blood, the more damage is done to the heart muscle. This can lead to long term hospitalization or, in severe cases, death or disability. It is much better to err on the side of caution and see a doctor for chest pain treatment, even though the ultimate cause may be something far less severe. Having peace of mind is very important when it comes to ones health.
Symptoms of Chest Pain
If you seek medical attention for chest pains, you will likely want to know of the chest pain causes in your case so that you can rule out a heart attack and receive appropriate chest pain treatment. First, your doctor must determine what type of chest pains you are experiencing so that he can rule out heart attack as a cause right away. This will help him narrow down the chest pain causes. There are a number of questions you might be asked to help the doctor make his diagnosis. When did the pain begin? What is the severity of the pain? How long does the pain last? Does the pain become severe, then fade? Do the chest pains radiate to another location of your body? Have you been ill recently? These questions give the doctor a starting point. He may then order some tests or begin chest pain treatment right away. The chest pain treatment may or may not involve hospitalization, so be prepared for a hospital stay. Your doctor may also ask if you suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, angina, or diabetes. All of these conditions have heart-related implications and are quite common among the general population in regards to chest pains and chest pain treatment.
How to Treat Chest Pain
The type of Chest pain treatment will vary depending upon what is actually causing the pain. Each case is different, but there are some common things to be aware of. Angina is a recurring pain in the chest due to restricted blood flow to the heart. This condition can be the result of high cholesterol which blocks the blood vessels supplying blood to the heart. It can be a harbinger of things to come, or may be managed with proper care. This condition can trigger a heart attack in certain cases, but medications, such as blood thinners, are often employed to manage its symptoms. Broken ribs or bruising is sometimes mistaken for heart problems. Usually, however, the patient is aware of sustaining the injury and it can be properly diagnosed and treated. One trigger of the chest pains may be a pulmonary embolism. It tends to occur when blood pools and congeals due to prolonged inactivity. Treatment in this case usually involves a prescription for blood thinners to prevent the blood from thickening or coagulating.
