Everything You Should Know about Chest Pains in Emergency Care

Chest pain can be quite unbearable. The worst part is when they attack in the middle of the night when you have very little control over what you can do. This is one of the reasons why it is important to identify a 24-hour emergency care facility that you can go to in case of medical emergencies. Chest pains are not a new occurrence in emergency facilities. Different patients report chest pains, explained by different causes. Are you experiencing sharp pains in your chest? It is important to stay alert when this happens, but more importantly, to reach out for medical assistance as soon as possible.

More About Chest Pains

The thing about chest pains is that they can be a symptom of very severe health conditions. For some patients, chest pains end up becoming a sign of heart failure or disease. The sharp pain that is felt in the chest area should, therefore, be taken seriously. Once you feel the pain, consult a medical expert from an emergency room near you.

The evaluation and diagnosis of chest pain, however, tends to be challenging. The reason is that chest pain is inclusive of many other symptoms. Not only that but it can have diverse underlying health problems, ranging from heart problems, respiratory problems, pneumonia, among other pain-related complaints. This is why we emphasize the need to seek immediate medical assistance once you experience the first strike of pain. Do this as soon as possible, to prevent the potential progression of the problem, manifesting through chest pains.

How Do You Know You Have Chest Pains?

One thing you have to understand about chest pains is that they can range from nonurgent health situations, to life-threatening. Determining the difference is not up to you. As soon as you consult a health expert, diagnostic examinations in a laboratory can help narrow down to the issue. The most important thing, however, is to consider chest pain symptoms. Even then, note that the symptoms of chest pains tend to be vague. The problem usually comes in when you have to describe what you are experiencing. In that case, it is the task of the ER medical expert to ask pertinent questions. Such questions include:

1. Is the pain sharp or tearing?
2. Where is the location of the pain?
3. Do you feel the pain on the left side or the right side of your chest?
4. Is the pain aching or dull?
5. What factors make the pain worse? Does it worsen when you lean back or forward? Does it hurt when you take a deep breath?
6. What other symptoms accompany the chest pains?

The above questions lay a guide from which to identify whether or not you are having chest pains. The idea is to identify the root cause of the pain. Sometimes, chest pains can be confused with abdominal pains. This is especially the case where the pain occurs in the upper abdominal area. For this reason, chest pain in women should be carefully considered before a diagnosis is made.

What Causes Chest Pains?

Overall, the chest pain symptoms differ depending on the underlying condition. Some of the health problems that can lead to chest pains include the following:

1. Acute coronary syndrome – chest pain caused by this syndrome is often accompanied by other symptoms like the tightness of the chest, pain in the left side of the chest, nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, dyspnea or unexplained indigestion.
2. Pneumonia – chest pains caused by this disease come with other symptoms like fever, unusual breath sounds, body chills, shortness of breath and even coughing.
3. Diabetes complications
4. Hypertension and other blood pressure-related problems – often accompanied by other signs like dizziness.
5. General body pain – the pain in your chest can be part of general body pain, including shoulder pain, neck aches, and even migraine headaches.
6. Hypercholesterolemia and any other cholesterol-related problems.
7. Body injuries – this is specifically with injured ribs. It can either be fractures or bruises.
8. Stomach ulcers and any other abdominal related problems –recurring discomfort in the chest are usually an extension of the intense pain in the stomach’s lining.
9. Tuberculosis – this is a problem of the lungs. It features a bacterial infection that comes with other symptoms like a sharp pain in the chest dry coughing, coughing sputum or blood, to mention a few.