Chest Pain (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Chest Pain Overview
- Chest Pain Causes
- Chest Pain Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Chest Pain Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- For More Information
- Multimedia
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Chest Pain - Cause
Chest Pain Symptoms
Heart Attack Symptoms
Typical heart attack pain occurs in the mid to left side of the chest and may also extend to the left shoulder, the left arm, the jaw, the stomach, or the back.
- Other associated symptoms are shortness of breath, increased sweating, nausea, and
vomiting.
- Symptoms vary considerably from person to person.
- Women may experience symptoms of heart attack similar to men (chest pain), but they also may be more atypical. Atypical symptoms include:
- neck,
- jaw,
- shoulder,
- upper back
- abdominal discomfort,
- shortness of breath,
- nausea or vomiting,
- abdominal pain,
- heartburn,
- sweatiness,
- lightheadedness,
- dizziness, or
- unexplained fatigue.
Angina Symptoms
Angina is similar to heart attack pain but occurs with physical exertion or exercise and is relieved by rest or nitroglycerin.
- Angina becomes life threatening when pain occurs at
rest, has increased in frequency or intensity, or is not relieved with at
least three nitroglycerin tablets taken five minutes apart.
- This is considered to be unstable angina, which may be a warning sign of an impending heart attack.
Aortic Dissection Symptoms
The chest pain associated with aortic dissection occurs suddenly and is described as "ripping" or "tearing."
- The pain may radiate to the back or between the
shoulder blades.
- Because the aorta supplies blood to the entire body, symptoms may also include:
- angina-type pain,
- shortness of breath,
- fainting,
- abdominal pain, or
- symptoms of stroke.
- angina-type pain,
Pulmonary Embolism Symptoms
Symptoms of a pulmonary embolus include:
- the sudden onset of shortness of breath,
- rapid breathing, and
- sharp pain in the mid chest, which increases with deep breaths.
Pneumothorax Symptoms
Symptoms of pneumothorax include:
- the sudden onset of shortness of breath,
- sharp chest pain,
- rapid heart rate,
- dizziness,
- lightheadedness, or
- faintness.
Perforated Viscus Symptoms
Perforated viscus comes on suddenly with severe abdominal, chest, and/or back pain. Abdominal pain may increase with movement or when breathing in and may be accompanied by a rigid, boardlike abdominal wall.
Pericarditis Symptoms
The pain of pericarditis is typically described as a sharp or stabbing pain in the mid-chest, worsened by deep breaths.
- This pain may mimic the pain of a heart attack,
because it may radiate to the left side of the back or shoulder.
- One distinguishing factor is that the pain is
worsened by lying flat and improved by leaning forward. When lying flat, the
inflamed pericardium is in direct contact with the heart and causes pain. When
leaning forward, there is a space between the pericardium and the heart.
- Many people report a recent cold, fever, shortness of breath, or pain when swallowing just before developing pericarditis.
Mitral Valve Prolapse Symptoms
Mitral valve prolapse usually has no symptoms, but some people experience palpitations (sensation of rapid or strong heartbeat) and chest pain.
- Chest pain associated with mitral valve prolapse
differs from that of typical angina in that it is sharp, does not radiate, and
is not related to physical exertion.
- Other symptoms include fatigue, lightheadedness, and
shortness of breath.
- Complications include infection of the heart valves, mitral valve regurgitation (an abnormal blood flow within the chambers of the heart), and abnormal heart rhythms, which rarely cause sudden death.
Pneumonia Symptoms
The chest pain of pneumonia occurs during prolonged or forceful coughing.
- The pain is usually one-sided an is worsened by
coughing.
- Other associated symptoms include fever, coughing up mucus (sputum), and shortness of breath.
Esophagus Related Symptoms
With chest pain originating from the esophagus, symptoms depend on the source.
- Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include:
- heartburn,
- painful swallowing,
- excessive salivation,
- dull chest discomfort,
- chest pressure, or
- severe squeezing pain across the mid chest.
- You may feel uncomfortable or may experience:
- profuse sweating,
- pallor,
- nausea, and
- vomiting.
- profuse sweating,
- Other symptoms include:
- sore throat,
- sour or bitter taste in the mouth or throat,
- hoarseness, and
- persistent dry cough.
- sore throat,
- Pain from GERD is often relieved with antacids.
- heartburn,
- Symptoms of esophagitis include difficulty
swallowing, painful swallowing, or symptoms of GERD. The chest pain comes on
suddenly and is not relieved by antacids.
- The pain of esophageal spasm is usually intermittent and dull. It is located in the mid-chest and may radiate to the back, neck, or shoulders.
Next: When to Seek Medical Care »
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