Chest Pain in Women
Easy Guide To: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment
Chest Pain in Women |
Chest Pain in WomenContents • What Is Chest Pain? |
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What Is Chest Pain?
Chest pain is an umbrella term to describe any pain or discomfort in the chest area (image of chest area). It may feel dull or sharp, last a few seconds to a few hours, occur in one spot or spread across the width of the body and down the arms. The pain can be in the skin covering the chest, in the muscles, ribcage or in an organ housed in the area such as the heart or lungs. While chest pain is associated with heart attacks and other dangerous conditions, it is mostly caused by minor disorders such as indigestion or muscle strain. Every year about 200,000 cases of chest pain, not related to coronary heart disease (CHD), are reported in America.
Symptoms of chest pain: Anyone who experiences severe chest pain will no doubt feel very frightened because of its association with heart attacks. Chest pain is not a condition but rather a symptom of a condition. It is a term to describe any pain, pressure, squeezing or constriction in the chest region. Pain which radiates to the jaw, head or arm should be considered a medical emergency. If you experience a heavy squeezing pain which spans the width of the chest and lasts more than 20 minutes, also seek immediate treatment. You may be having a heart attack. Chest pain accompanied by fever may be pneumonia. Pain related to eating food or certain types of food may be due to acid reflux. Any chest pain which is relieved by lying down is not usually a sign of heart disease. A patient with recurrent chest pain which occurs with physical activity and disappears with rest may be having angina attacks. If the chest is tender to touch, without swelling, it may just be a pulled muscle. If there is swelling it may be a sign of inflammation which usually improves on its own after a few weeks. When Is Chest Pain Not a Heart Attack? 1. When pain is sharp, brief and stabbing and only lasts a few seconds.
Generally most causes of chest pain fall into 2 categories: heart related and non-heart related. Diagnosis of chest pain: Despite the advancements in modern technology, a thorough physical examination and taking the patient's medical history remains the most important part of diagnosing the cause of chest pain. The doctor will want to know about the characteristics of the pain, where it is located, how long it lasts, whether it radiates to other parts of the body and if the patient has any other symptoms such as nausea or breathlessness. The source of the pain may still be difficult to diagnose because angina pain can easily be confused with indigestion pain, and chest tightening associated with heart attacks could also be due to stress. Women in particular have to be extra vigilant about ensuring they receive a thorough clinical evaluation because statistics show that doctors are less likely to send them for heart tests such as echocardiogram (image) or electrocardiogram (EKG) as men. Where people are admitted to emergency for chest pain, if heart attack is ruled out, studies show that in 42 percent end up having gastroesophageal disorders such as ulcers, acid reflux, esophageal perforation. Another 28 percent are likely to have a musculoskeletal problem such as rib fractures or muscle strain. At The Doctors The treatment for chest pain will depend on the underlying cause of pain. For example antibiotics may be prescribed for chest pain related to pneumonia and surgery such as coronary angioplasty may be needed for certain types of CHD.
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Recommended Health Screenings For Women: List for all ages. Return to Homepage: Womens Health Advice |
WOMENS HEALTH ADVICE: ABOUT CHEST PAIN IN WOMEN |
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