Chest Pain

Cardiology Testing & Treatment in Fremont

There are many types of chest pain. Chest pain may occur anywhere ranging from your upper abdomen to your neck. It can feel dull and aching or stabbing and sharp or crushing with a “squeezing” sensation. Some types of chest pain are temporary and relatively harmless; others signify a life-threatening health event and require immediate medical attention. While a leading cause of emergency room visits in the United States, approximately 25% of people in America experience chest pain unrelated to their hearts.

Causes of chest pain may include:

• Heart conditions, including coronary artery disease (CAD), coronary artery dissection, heart attack / myocardial infarction, myocarditis, pericarditis, mitral valve prolapse
• Muscle, bone, and nerve conditions, including shingles, muscle strain, rib problems
• Lung conditions, such as lung abscesses, asthma, pleuritis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, and pneumothorax
• Gastrointestinal conditions, such as peptic ulcers, esophageal hypersensitivity, esophageal rupture / perforation, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophageal contraction disorders, gallbladder problems, pancreatitis, hiatal hernia, and acid reflux / heartburn
• Mental / emotional health conditions, including anxiety or a panic attack

Should I Go to the Doctor?

If in doubt, err on the safe side and call the doctor. If the pain occurs suddenly and anti-inflammatory medicines do not help, schedule an appointment with your doctor at Washington Township Medical Foundation. Call your doctor if you experience additional symptoms with chest pain such as fever, chills, difficulty swallowing, and / or coughing up mucus.

If you experience the following physical symptoms along with your chest pain, call 911 immediately for emergency help:

• Sudden crushing, squeezing, tightness, or pressure under the breastbone
• Sudden sharp pain in your chest accompanied by shortness of breath
• Low blood pressure / heart rate
• Symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, very fast heartbeat / breathing, confusion, pale face, and / or sweating
• Chest pain spreading to your back, jaw, and left arm