![]() ![]() Pain that lasts for many hours or days without any other symptoms ![]() Pain or pressure accompanied by other signs, such as difficulty breathing, a cold sweat, or sudden nausea Pain that extends to the left arm, neck, jaw, or back (see figure below) Pain clearly on one side of the body or the other Pain in diffuse area, including a constant pain in middle of chest Sudden stabbing pain that lasts only a few seconds Gradual onset of pain over the course of a few minutes Sharp or knifelike pain brought on by breathing or coughing Sensation of pain, or of pressure, tightness, squeezing, or burning Chest pain symptoms and what they mean More likely to be a heart attack A few seconds of recurrent stabbing pain is less likely to be a heart attack (see box), while pain centered in the chest that spreads out to the left arm or jaw is more likely to be one. What were you doing before these feelings started?Ĭlear answers to these questions go a long way toward nailing down a diagnosis. Is the feeling constant, or does it come and go? What is it that you are feeling (pain, pressure, tightness, etc.)? Here are some things your doctors will want to know about what you are experiencing: So, what you describe to the doctor and your medical history are extremely important in determining the initial steps in your treatment. But sometimes these don't immediately show abnormalities. In addition to the description of your symptoms and your heart risk profile, doctors use the results of an electrocardiogram (ECG) and a blood test called cardiac troponin. Sudden heaviness, weakness, or aching in one or both armsĭoctors use several pieces of information to determine who is, and who isn't, having a heart attack. Pain, numbness, pinching, prickling, or other uncomfortable sensations in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, burning, tightness, or pain in the center of the chest If you notice one or more of the signs below in yourself or someone else, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Chest pain and heart attack symptomsĬhest pain is only one of the possible signs of an impending heart attack. Still others become breathless, or extremely fatigued, or nauseated. The other tricky problem with heart attacks is that different people experience them in different ways. Most of them, though, had a condition unrelated to the heart or arteries. Some are experiencing "regular" angina, which occurs when part of the heart isn't getting as much oxygen-rich blood as it needs during periods of physical exertion or emotional stress. A few have another potentially life-threatening problem, such as pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs) or aortic dissection (a tear in the inner layer of the aorta). Only 20% of them are diagnosed with a heart attack or an episode of unstable angina, a warning sign that a heart attack may happen soon. Millions of Americans with chest pain are seen in hospital emergency departments every year. What's the problem? Chest pain can stem from dozens of conditions besides heart attack, from pancreatitis to pneumonia or panic attack. It's a vexing question, one that millions of people - and their doctors - face each year. When is chest pain serious? That dull burning feeling in your chest doesn't seem to be going away, and even feels like it is getting worse. Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.What makes you worry that chest pain is serious, like a heart attack Warning signs of a heart attack.Īmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The association between pain and sleep in fibromyalgia. What is precordial catch syndrome? Medical News Today. Diagnosis and treatment of slipping rib syndrome. Diagnostic performance of reproducible chest wall tenderness to rule out acute coronary syndrome in acute chest pain: a prospective diagnostic study. Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain. ![]()
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