Research shows that chest pains are one of the primary reasons why most individuals above fifteen years of age end up visiting the emergency room each year. If you are battling chest pain, ignoring the symptoms can be fatal in the long run. For efficient Bakersfield chest pain care, contact board-certified cardiologist Vinod Kumar MD, FACC of Heart Vascular & Leg Center for precise diagnosis and effective treatment.
What is Chest Pain?
Angina, or chest pain, refers to all types of pain or discomfort in your chest when your heart fails to receive enough oxygenated blood. It often feels like a squeezing tightness that can spread to your shoulders, neck, back, arm, or jaw.
With varying symptoms, such as a dull ache, burning feeling, or sharp pain, chest pain does not qualify as a disease but rather an internal indication of an underlying condition.
Symptoms of Chest Pain
Most individuals with chest pain describe the pain as general discomfort. Be sure to contact your physician if you experience symptoms such as:
- Chest pressure
- Chest tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Cold sweats
- Pain that intensifies with activity
- Pain in your neck, chest, jaw, shoulders, and back
- A feeling of fullness in the chest
While it can be a challenge to avoid chest pain, you are more vulnerable if you are overweight, a smoker, have high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, physically inactive, or have a family history.
Causes of Chest Pain
Chest pain causes many complications, including: gallbladder problems, indigestion, and pancreas issues. You may also experience chest pains either during or following a panic attack or muscle injury.
In separate cases, your chest pain may occur from underlying heart complications such as:
- Angina- Angina is a situation where oxygen-rich blood fails to reach your heart because of plaque buildup in your artery walls.
- Heart Attack- A heart attack is a severe condition where blood cannot reach your heart because of a blockage.
- Pericarditis- This condition occurs when the sac covering your heart becomes inflamed, causing sharp chest pains.
- Aortic Dissection- Also a severe condition, aortic dissection appears when the inner layers of your aorta, the primary artery transporting blood from your heart, begin to separate.
How is Chest Pain Treated?
If your chest pain stems from an underlying condition, your practitioner might recommend one or more of these treatments:
- Thrombolytic Drugs
These types of drugs dissolve blood clots if you are already experiencing a heart attack.
- Blood Thinners
As the name suggests, blood thinners help thin your blood; preventing blood clots in your arteries if you are at-risk of a heart attack.
- Angioplasty and Stent Placement
During an angioplasty and stent placement, your specialist attaches a balloon and a stent to a catheter before inserting it through a blood vessel in your groin. After threading it up to the blockage, he or she expands the balloon which opens-up the artery. The stent is then left inside the artery to keep it open.
Schedule an appointment today with Heart Vascular & Leg Center to revitalize your chest health with proven methods. Call the offices to speak with a provider, or book your appointment using the online booking tool.