There are several different forms of chest pain that range from a dull ache to a sharp stabbing pain. Other times it feels like your chest is being crushed or you may feel a burning sensation. There have also been cases where the pain starts in the neck, travels to the jaw and back down your arms. There are many different situations that can cause these types of chest pain. Some can be life-threatening if they involve the lungs or heart. Because of this, it is important to visit a chest pain doctor Los Angeles as soon as possible.

Symptoms

Chest pain manifests as many different sensations and the cause can be determined by evaluating symptoms. It is likely that the pain isn’t caused by a heart problem, but the only way to be sure is to visit a chest pain doctor Los Angeles.

  • Heart-Related Chest Pain. While chest pain is typically associated with heart disease, many people that have heart disease describe it as more of a vague discomfort instead of pain. Chest pain or discomfort that is an indication of a heart attack or another heart problem has been generally been experienced with the following:
    • Cold Sweats
    • Weakness or Dizziness
    • Shortness of Breath
    • Pain lasts more than a couple minutes, gets worse with activity, varies in intensity, or comes and goes
    • Intense pain that radiates in your shoulders, neck, jaw, back, and arms.
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting
    • Pressure, tightness, or burning
  • Not Heart-Related Chest Pain
    • Chest pain that isn’t typically associated with a heart-related problem show symptoms like:
      • Difficulty swallowing
      • The degree of pain changes when shifting your body position
      • Sour taste
      • Tenderness when pressure is applied to your chest
      • Pain persists for more than a few hours
      • Pain that gets more intense when you cough or inhale deeply

Causes

There are many different causes of chest pain, all of which require immediate medical attention.

  • Heart-Related Causes
    • Heart Attack – A heart attack occurs when a clot in your heart blocks blood flow.
    • Aortic Dissection – This is a life-threatening condition that means that the inner layers of the main artery have separated and blood is being forced between the layers. This can cause a rupture of the aorta.
    • Pericarditis – Pericarditis is an inflammation of the sac around the heart. You’ll feel sharp pains that get more intense when you lie down or breath.
    • Angina – Angina is caused by thick plagues building up on the inner walls of the arteries. These plaques restrict the supply of blood to the heart.
  • Digestive Causes
    • Swallowing Disorders – Disorders involving the esophagus cause difficulty or pain when swallowing.
    • Heartburn – Heartburn is a painful burning sensation that occurs when stomach acid makes its way into the tube connecting your stomach and throat.
    • Pancreas or Gallbladder Problems – When your gallbladder or pancreas shows signs of inflammation, or gallstones it can cause abdominal pain that also causes pain in your chest.
  • Lung-Related Causes
    • Collapsed Lung – Chest pain caused by a collapsed lung begins suddenly and lasts for hours.
    • Pulmonary Embolism – When a blood clot gets stuck in an artery in the lung, this may mean that you have a pulmonary embolism.
    • Pulmonary Hypertension – Your chest pain may be a result of pulmonary hypertension. This occurs if you have high blood pressure in the arteries that are in charge of carrying blood to your lungs.
    • Pleurisy – If your chest pain worsens when you cough or inhale, it could be because the lung membrane is inflamed.

Treatment

Chest pain treatment will depend on what is causing the pain. General treatments include:

  • Aspirin
  • Artery Relaxers
  • Blood Thinners
  • Antidepressants
  • Acid-Suppressing Medication
  • Thrombolytic Drugs

There are also surgical procedures for more serious conditions, such as:

  • Bypass Surgery
  • Lung Re-Inflation
  • Angioplasty
  • Dissection Repair

If you are experiencing chest pain, please contact an experienced chest pain doctor Los Angeles at Vermont Urgent Care as soon as possible. Schedule an appointment by calling (213) 386-2511 or schedule an appointment here.

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