Should I be worried if I have chest pain?
Not all chest pain is a cardiac issue, but if your chest pain is due to a restriction in blood flow to your heart, it could be a warning sign of a heart attack or other serious heart condition. For that reason, you should never ignore chest pain.
It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between heart-related chest pain (angina) and other types of chest pain, which could be caused by anxiety, asthma, digestive problems, or other conditions not related to your heart.
The expert team at Corrielus Cardiology uses state-of-the-art diagnostic testing methods to determine if your chest pain requires cardiovascular care.
What might be causing my chest pain?
When people hear the term “chest pain,” they often think right away about having a heart attack, which results from blocked blood flow in your heart muscle. However, not all cardiac chest pain is a sign of a heart attack. Pain that comes and goes is often due to angina, where narrowed arteries restrict blood flow in your heart.
Cardiac chest pain can vary depending on the cause, and even between patients who have the same condition. You may experience a dull ache or heavy pressure, or the pain could be sharp, stabbing, or squeezing.
You can feel chest pain anywhere from the top of your shoulders to the bottom of your ribs. If you develop chest tightness or discomfort of any kind, call Corrielus Cardiology for an evaluation.
How is chest pain treated?
If the Corrielus Cardiology team determines that your chest pain is heart-related, they go to great lengths to assess your risk for heart attack and treat your chest pain appropriately and effectively.
The precise treatment you need for your chest pain depends on the cause and other factors like your general health, age, and lifestyle. You might need to take medications like blood thinners, aspirin, or artery relaxers.
As with all heart conditions, a change in lifestyle can make a fundamental difference in your heart’s health.
A balanced, nutritious diet, regular exercise, leading a low-stress lifestyle, and not smoking are all proven ways of maintaining healthy blood vessels. By making these changes, you can reduce the risk of cardiac chest pain and angina.
For an accurate diagnosis of your chest pain and timely treatment, call Corrielus Cardiology today or book an appointment online.
