Chest pain
Alternative names:
burning in the chest; pain in the chest
Home care:
Chest-wall pain is often associated with muscular strain such as from unusual activity or coughing. It can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications. Treatments such as mentholated rubs, heat, and rest, can help. If symptoms persist for more than 3 to 5 days, see your health care provider.
Follow the therapy prescribed by the health care provider for treating the underlying cause.
Call your health care provider if:
- there is sudden onset of discomfort in the chest (in an adult). It is safer to assume that the chest pain has something to do with the heart and call the doctor. If it turns out to be a false alarm, nothing is lost.
- chest pain is associated with shortness of breath, an irregular pulse, sweating, dizziness, or if the pain is severe.
- known angina increases in severity, frequency, or duration; begins to occur at rest; or angina pain is unrelieved by nitroglycerin.
- chest-wall pain persists longer than 3 to 5 days.
ANY CHEST PAIN THAT IS NEW OR DIFFERENT IS WORTH A VISIT TO YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER!
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
Emergency measures will be taken if necessary. The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting chest pain in detail may include: - location
- Is the pain between the shoulder blades (interscapular)?
- Is it under the sternum (breastbone, substernal)?
- Does the pain change location?
- Is it on one side only (unilateral)?
- quality
- How would you describe the pain?
- severe
- tearing or ripping
- sharp or stabbing?
- burning?
- squeezing, constricting, tight, pressure-like, or crushing?
- aching?
- dull?
- heavy sensation?
- time pattern
- Did the pain begin recently?
- Does it occur repeatedly (recurrent)?
- Does the pain occur at the same time each day?
- Does it come on suddenly?
- Is it worse or more frequent at night?
- Is the pain getting worse; increasing in severity?
- Is the pain more frequent or lasting longer than previous episodes?
- How long does the pain last?
- The pain is continuous for how long on each episode?
- radiation
- Does the pain go from your chest into your shoulder?
- Does the pain go from your chest into your arm?
- Does the pain go from your chest into your neck?
- Does the pain go from your chest into your back?
- Does the pain go from your chest around the lower chest wall?
- Does the pain go from your chest into your jaw?
- aggravating factors
- Is the pain worse when you are breathing deeply?
- Is the pain worse when you are coughing?
- Is the pain worse when you are eating?
- Is the pain worse when you are bending or stooping?
- Is the pain worse when you are under mental stress?
- Is the pain worse when you are moving around or changing position?
- Is the pain worse when you are exercising?
- Is the pain worse when you have less exercise than in the recent past?
- relieving factors
- Is the pain better after you rest?
- Is it completely relieved or just less pain?
- Is the pain better after you take nitroglycerin (NTG) medication?
- Is it completely relieved or just less pain?
- Is the pain better after you drink milk or take antacids?
- Is the pain better after belching (eructation)?
- other
- What other symptoms are also present?
Vital signs (temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure) will be monitored. The physical examination will include emphasis on the chest wall, lungs, and heart. Hospitalization will be required in difficult or advanced cases or when the cause of the pain is not clear.
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include: Note: More complex tests may be required depending on the difficulty of diagnosis or the suspected cause of the chest pain.
After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to chest pain to your personal medical record.
|
