Diagnosing a Heart Attack. Treatment of a Heart Attack. Life After a Heart Attack. Heart Attack Tools and Resources. Our online community of survivors and caregivers is here to keep you going no matter the obstacles. Types of Angina Knowing the types of angina and how they differ is important.
The major risk factors for heart disease and coronary artery disease include: Unhealthy cholesterol levels High blood pressure Smoking Diabetes Overweight or obesity Metabolic syndrome Physical inactivity Unhealthy diet Older age The risk increases for men after 45 years of age and for women after 55 years of age.
Family history of early heart disease Diagnosis All chest pain should be checked out by a health care professional. Here are some questions you might be asked: How long have you had this condition? On a scale of 1 mild to 10 critical , what is your level of discomfort? What behavior s provoke the pain? Physical activity? What relieves the discomfort? Angina Treatment If your health care professional thinks that you have unstable angina or that your angina is related to a serious heart condition, they may recommend the following tests and procedures: EKG Electrocardiogram Stress Test Blood Tests Chest X-rays Coronary Angiography Cardiac Catheterization Computed Tomography Angiography Treatment of angina includes: Determining the cause Cardiac procedures to open blocked arteries Medicines to help keep the arteries open Medicines to treat other medical conditions and risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes Lifestyle changes including healthy diet and physical activity Cardiac rehabilitation if you qualify These treatments will help reduce pain and discomfort and how often the angina pain occurs.
Not all chest pain is a sign of heart disease. Last Reviewed: Nov 8, Watch, Learn and Live See your cardiovascular system in action with our interactive illustrations and animations.
Wait for the ambulance. It has specialised staff and equipment that may save your life. Before medical treatment can begin, the cause of the pain must be found. You may a have a lot of tests done including:. If your healthcare professional thinks you may have angina, they may order further tests to check the state of the blood vessels that supply your heart. They may also arrange an exercise stress test on an exercise bike or treadmill or other tests — such as an angiogram or CT scan of your chest.
It is not always easy to diagnose the cause of chest pain. Your doctor may need to see you more than once to be sure, and further tests may be needed, or you may be referred to a cardiologist heart doctor.
If your doctor has ruled out serious causes of chest pain, it is likely you will make a full recovery. General self-care suggestions include:.
Ways to reduce your risk of heart attack include:. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. The type of pain felt in the abdomen can vary greatly. Children may feel stomach pain for a range of reasons and may need treatment. Severe allergic reactions anaphylaxis and asthma attacks need urgent emergency first aid.
In an emergency, always call triple zero Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that requires urgent medical attention. Ankle sprain is a common sports injuries caused by overstretching and tearing the supporting ligaments.
Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website.
All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.
The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Home Heart. Chest pain. Actions for this page Listen Print.
Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Chest pain — symptoms of a heart attack Chest pain — angina Angina and heart attack — risk factors Other common causes of chest pain Seek urgent medical help for chest pain Diagnosis of chest pain Recovering from chest pain Reduce your risk of heart attack Where to get help.
If you have chest pain, seek urgent medical help. Call for an ambulance. Chest pain — symptoms of a heart attack Chest pain can be a warning sign of a heart attack.
Symptoms of a heart attack may include: Severe crushing pain in the centre of your chest or behind the breastbone. You may feel this as a squeezing, tightening, choking or heavy pressure feeling. Pain spreading to the shoulders, arms, neck, throat, jaw or back.
Feeling anxious, dizzy or unwell. A sick feeling in the stomach. When swelling and irritation occurs in this membrane, a condition called pericarditis occurs. Pericarditis has different classification types, and the symptoms vary for each type of pericarditis you have. However, symptoms for all types include:. The chest pain associated with pericarditis happens when the irritated layers of the pericardium rub against each other. This condition can come on suddenly but last temporarily.
This is known as acute pericarditis. When symptoms are gradual and persist for a long time, you may have chronic pericarditis. Most cases will improve on their own over time. Treatment of more severe cases include medications and possibly surgery. Learn more about pericarditis. Pleuritis, also known as pleurisy, is a condition in which the pleura becomes inflamed.
The pleura is a membrane that lines the inner side of the chest cavity and surrounds the lungs. Chest pain is the main symptom. Radiating pain in the shoulders and back may also occur. A number of conditions can cause pleuritis. Treatment usually involves pain control and treating the underlying cause.
Pneumothorax happens when one of your lungs collapses, and air leaks into the space between your lung and chest wall. When air pushes on the outside of your lung, it can collapse. Most of the time, a pneumothorax is caused by a traumatic chest injury. It can also occur from damage from an underlying chest disease or certain medical procedures.
Symptoms include sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. While a pneumothorax can be life threatening, some may heal on their own. If not, treatment usually involves inserting a flexible tube or needle between the ribs to remove excess air.
Learn more about pneumothorax. A coronary artery tear is an emergency situation where a blood vessel that supplies oxygen and blood to the heart spontaneously tears. This can slow or block blood flow to the heart, causing sudden heart attack and even sudden death. A coronary artery tear can cause:. When you experience a coronary artery tear, the main priority through treatment is to restore blood flow to the heart. Surgery involves either opening the artery with a balloon or stent, or bypassing the artery.
A pulmonary embolism occurs when one of the pulmonary arteries in your lungs is blocked. In most cases, this is caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from the legs. Less common symptoms include:. While pulmonary embolisms can be life threatening, early detection and treatment greatly increase your chances of survival.
Treatment usually involves surgery and medication. You might also be interested in medications that prevent further clots from forming. Learn more about pulmonary embolism. Your doctor will conduct tests to determine the cause of your chest tightness. If the tests for a heart attack come back negative, your symptoms may be caused by anxiety.
You should discuss your symptoms with your doctor to determine when to seek immediate medical attention if you experience chest tightness again. Once you can link your chest tightness with anxiety, there are several ways you can combat the symptom at home.
Several lifestyle adjustments can help you reduce stress and relieve anxiety, including:. See your doctor to determine other treatment methods for anxiety. If you experience chest tightness with other concerning symptoms, see a doctor immediately.
Chest tightness could be a symptom of a serious health condition, like a heart attack. If your chest tightness is the result of anxiety, you should discuss the symptoms with your doctor. Anxiety should be treated early to keep it from getting worse. This may include lifestyle adjustments that help you manage the anxiety from home. Read this article in Spanish. Chest pain on your right side can be caused by muscle strain, heartburn, or another underlying condition.
Some of these conditions such as…. In rare cases, people may experience a headache at the same time they experience chest pain. Learn about the possible causes, which can range from…. COVID and anxiety can both lead to chest pain or tightness. Tietze syndrome involves a painful swelling or lump in or around the upper ribs.
The symptoms are similar to costochondritis, but there are key…. Pain in your chest when swallowing food or drink can be alarming. If your chest hurts when you swallow, it could be due to a variety of conditions…. This is especially true if your symptoms quickly go away.
But if your chest pain and…. Learn more about measuring your peak flow rate and 7 meters on the market. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M. When to see a doctor about a tight chest.
0コメント