Chest Pain Specialist

Why do I have chest pain?

Chest pain is often due to problems like strained muscles and heartburn (acid reflux). You can even experience severe chest pain during an anxiety attack. The primary worry about having chest pain for most people is that it might relate to their heart.

While having chest pain doesn't necessarily mean you have a heart problem, cardiac disease is a widespread condition that can be potentially life-threatening. Therefore, if you experience chest pain, it's always best to get a proper diagnosis.

Chest pain that is due to heart problems is known as angina.

What is angina?

Angina is a symptom of a disorder that develops when your heart muscle isn't getting enough oxygen. Angina pain is like a squeezing feeling in your chest that may spread into your shoulders, neck, back, arms, and jaw. You might also experience dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, and cold sweats.

Heart disease is the usual cause of angina. Conditions like coronary artery disease (CAD) cause narrowing of your coronary arteries that means blood can't flow freely into your heart muscle, depriving it of oxygen.

How is the cause of chest pain diagnosed?

Pinnacle Healthcare System offers state-of-the-art diagnostic testing to discover the cause of your chest pain.

After your cardiac consultation, you undergo an electrocardiogram (EKG) to measure electrical activity in your heart. You might also need an echocardiogram, a type of chest ultrasound that produces moving images of your heart.

If it's still not clear what's causing your chest pain, or your provider needs more information, you might have to complete a stress test or wear a Holter monitor.

What treatments might I need for chest pain?

Chest pain treatments typically begin with addressing problems like obesity, poorly managed diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions, and changing your diet to reduce your intake of cholesterol.

Your condition may require medications such as:

• Beta-blockers
• Calcium channel blockers
• Cholesterol-lowering medications
• Artery relaxant medication
• Aspirin
• Blood-thinning medicines
• ACE (angiotensin-converting-enzyme) inhibitors
• Digitalis preparations
• Diuretics
• Vasodilators

When these treatments aren't sufficient to relieve your chest pain, a minimally invasive cardiac catheterization procedure might be necessary. Options include balloon angioplasty or atherectomy to open up your narrowed arteries.

External counterpulsation (ECP) therapy is also available for patients with chronic, stable angina and can't undergo other procedures.

For relief from your chest pain, call Pinnacle Healthcare System and schedule a consultation or book an appointment online today.